Obviously the biggest event to occur this month is Thanksgiving which will be a week from tomorrow.  However, November has also been designated as National Epilepsy Month and National Sleep Comfort month.  Epilepsy is a very serious illness while being able to sleep very comfortably is a desirable goal but not a matter of life and death.  Even so, both epilepsy and sleep problems received a lot of attention during the patent medicine era of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century.

Despite the ridiculous claims made many years ago, no cure has been discovered for epilepsy.  The Epilepsy Foundation’s surveys show that as many as one-third of those afflicted with epilepsy suffer from uncontrolled seizures.  An even larger portion of epilepsy victims are unable to control their seizures to the extent that they can live relatively normal lives.  Even modern, scientific treatments for epilepsy sometimes have unwanted side effects.  So it is that we can look at the following patent medicines sold to gullible epilepsy sufferers and their caregivers as frauds perpetrated by entrepreneurs who were out to make as many bucks as they could off the misfortunes of others:

Arkwright’s Epileptic Cure

Benner’s Epilepsy Cure

Bromalin (antiepileptic)

Caswell’s Epileptic Cure

Epilepsy Peacock’s Bromides or the Gower Plan of Treatment

Epileptic’s Friend

Ethylene Bromide (antiepileptic)

Frost’s Epilepsy Cure

Frye’s Epileptic Cure

Gold Monobromide (anti-epileptic, migraines)

Kalle’s Antifebrin Hypnotic Anodyne  (sedative tonic—nervine anti-epileptic and anti-arthritho-rheumaatic)

Liebig’s Cure for Fits

Lindley’s Cure for Fits

Passmore’s Epileptic Mixture

Peck’s Epilepticide

Richmond’s Epileptic Cure

Spratt’s Fit Cure Tablets

Town’s Epilepsy Cure

So, far from being “cured,” epilepsy remains one of the diseases which has thus far eluded a cure.  The Epilepsy Foundation works to encourage seizure research and to ensure that it remains vibrant and innovative until a cure is found.

Even though it may not be regarded as seriously as epilepsy, millions of Americans do have trouble getting a good night’s sleep and helping them deal with this difficulty is one of the medical specialties which wasn’t in existence back in the patent medicine era when all kinds of remedies were on the market which presumptuously “guaranteed” to cure any and all sleep problems.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is the main organization charged with setting standards for physicians and others with a serious interest in this medical specialty.  It is still working to gain greater legitimacy in the field of medicine and last spring a delegation from the academy went to Washington to lobby members of Congress for greater support.  The following are some of the medications that were on the shelves of drug stores during the patent medicine era and that supposedly would “cure” sleep problems:

Hygeia Vibratory Appliance

Pepitron Pills (“They will cure insomnia”)

Cooper’s Insomnia and Sleeplessness Specific

Hahnemann’s Cure for Sleeplessness

Helonias Cordial (sedative)

Per-Avena Soporific

If these medications proved to be unsatisfactory, patients could go to The Nordrach, a sanitarium in the midst of the Catskills, which advertised that it “received patients suffering from insomnia.”

At present there is a business operating out of Birmingham which offers a delicious way of dealing with insomnia.  Their specialty is insomnia cookies which they offer in assorted packages.  Be forewarned, however, that these delicacies are pricey.  A box containing 12 insomnia cookies in assorted flavors sales for $26.00.  The customer has his or her choice of small or large cookies.