Turlington's Balsam of Life
Bottle of Turlington's balsam; Robert Turlington secured a patent in 1744 for "A specifick balsam, called the balsam of life." The Balsam contained no less than 27 ingredients, and in his patent specifications Turlington asserted that it would cure kidney and bladder stones, cholic, and inward weakness. He shortly issued a 46-page pamphlet in which he greatly expanded the list, asserting that the "Author of Nature" has provided "a Remedy for every Malady." and "a perfect Friend to Nature, which it strengthens and corroborates when weak and declining, vivifies and enlivens the Spirits, mixes with the Juices and Fluids of the Body and gently infuses its kindly Influence into those Parts that are most in Disorder."