Zam-Buk

Zam-Buk was a patent medicine produced by the Zam-Buk Company of Leeds, England, founded by Charles Edward Fulford in 1903. It was sold as a herbal balm and antiseptic ointment, and the use of a complementary Zam-Buk soap was recommended to complete the treatment. The ointment was advertised as being effective against a wide range of conditions, including cuts, bruises, sprains, freckles, ulcers, bleeding piles and even colds and toothache. It could also be used as an embrocation by rubbing it into the muscles of the back, legs or feet.[1]

In 1908 and 1909, it was reported that the formulation comprised approximately 66 per cent paraffin wax, approximately 20 per cent pale resin (colophony), and approximately 14 per cent eucalyptus oil, with small amounts of other ingredients.[1][2][3] More recently, the composition was given as 5 per cent eucalyptus oil, 1.8 per cent camphor, 0.5 per cent thyme oil, and 0.65 per cent sassafras oil.[4] A 1908 report published in The British Medical Journal estimated that the cost of ingredients for a standard 0.6-ounce (17 g) box was one farthing, yet its retail price was 1s 1½ d,[1] resulting in a profit margin of more than 98 per cent.

The source of the name is uncertain, but a link to South Africa has been suggested. Over time, the brand name became a term used to refer to ambulance-men and first aiders at rugby league matches in Australia and New Zealand.[5]

When Radio Luxembourg started longwave commercial radio broadcasts in English in 1933, its first advertisers were Fulford's Zam-Buk and Bile Beans.[6]

The brand was eventually acquired by Fisons, but production ceased in 1994 after the business was sold to Fisher Scientific as part of Fisons' unsuccessful defence against a hostile take-over offer by Rhône-Poulenc.[7] The product was revived by Rose & Co. in 1996.[8] After the original trade marks expired, Rose & Co successfully resisted a new application by a third party to register Zam-Buk as a trade mark in 2008.[9]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "The Composition of Certain Secret Remedies", The British Medical Journal, 18 April 1908: 942–944, JSTOR 25277285
  2. ↑ "Secret remedies : what they cost and what they contain", British Medical Association, 1909, p.111
  3. ↑ Professor Archibald Hill, MP, in Hansard, House of Commons Debates, 8 July 1941, vol 373, column 81
  4. ↑ Bartram (2013), Zam-Buk
  5. ↑ Fagan, Sean (12 July 2007), "Tracking Down The Zam-Buk", RL1908.com, archived from the original on 23 May 2011, retrieved 22 December 2009
  6. ↑ Watson & Hill (2012), p. 47
  7. ↑ Fisons sells off more assets to block takeover, The Independent, 30 August 1995
  8. ↑ "The Story of Zam-Buk", Rose & Co, retrieved 20 February 2015
  9. ↑ "Decision on opposition to trade mark application" (PDF). Intellectual Property Office. 21 October 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2015.

Bibliography