[Patent Medicine] Merchant's Gargling Oil Songster

Item Details

[Patent Medicine] Merchant's Gargling Oil Songster, published by Merchant's Gargling Oil, Lockport, New York, circa 1884. 6 5/16 x 4 1/16 inches, 32pp.

Printed yellow wrappers with staple-binding. Good condition only with moderate wear and soiling with rounded corners and several dog-eared pages.

Classic patent medicine promotional piece filled with product ads and testimonials along with a selection of popular songs of the late 19th century. Most of the testimonials are dated with the latest from 1884. Several of the songs are "Paddy Duffy's Cart", "Golden Slippers", "Uncle Tom's Lament" and their own jingle by Edward Atkins, "Merchant's Gargling Oil". 

"It's used by high society,
And the hardy sons of toil;
For sale by druggists o'er the land
The Merchant's Gargling Oil."

"Not only for the human flesh, 
Does this oil act so well;
But farmers use it on their stock,
And of its good tell."

Similar in look and feel to popular almanacs of the period, of which Merchant's Gargling Oil also produced. Song books are not as common as the almanacs. Slightly scary jester with owl on shoulder on the front wrapper. Back wrapper shows steel engraving of John Hodge, secretary and manager of Merchant's Gargling Oil Company.