Dr. James M. Solomon and his Indian Bitters
OLD DR. SOLOMON’S GREAT INDIAN BITTERS
OLD DR. SOLOMON’S INDIAN WINE BITTERS
25 October 2015
The bottle picture below represents an aqua OLD DR. SOLOMON’S GREAT INDIAN BITTERS from Attleboro, Massachusetts that I picked up in the recent Glass Works Auctions “Colors of Fall” Potpourri Auction. It is 8 3/4” tall, has a smooth base, an applied mouth and it is perfect. The top of post bottle picture pairs the Old Dr. Solomon’s Great Indian Bitters with an Old Dr. Solomon’s Indian Wine Bitters.
79. “OLD DR. SOLOMON’S – GREAT INDIAN BITTERS”, (Ring/Ham, S-137), Massachusetts, ca. 1875 – 1885, aqua, 8 3/4”h, smooth base, applied mouth. Perfect condition, a rare ‘Indian’ Bitters bottle! – Glass Works Auctions
The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:
S 137 OLD DR. SOLOMON’S GREAT INDIAN BITTERS
sp // OLD DR SOLOMON’S // f // GREARt INDIAN BITTERS //
Dr. James M. Solomon Attleboro, Massachusetts
8 5/8 x 2 3/4 x 1 3/4 (8 5/8) 3/8
Rectangular, Aqua, NSC, Applied lip, Tooled lip, 3 sp, Rare
Reverse label in English and French
Trade cards available
S 138 OLD DR. SOLOMON’S INDIAN WINE BITTERS
sp // OLD DR SOLOMON’S // f // INDIAN WINE BITTERS //
Dr. James M. Solomon Attleboro, Massachusetts
8 3/8 x 2 7/8 x 1 3/4 (8 3/8) 3/8
Rectangular, Aqua, CM, Tooled lip, 3 sp, Rare
Drug Catalog: 1885 Goodwin
Indian Wine Bitters & Rheumatic Drops advertising trade card (front) – Meyer Collection
Indian Wine Bitters & Rheumatic Drops advertising trade card (back) – Meyer Collection
Indian Wine Bitters & Rheumatic Drops advertising trade card (front) – Meyer Collection
Indian Wine Bitters & Rheumatic Drops advertising trade card (back) – Meyer Collection
James M. Solomon
Dr. James M. Solomon
The Solomon Indian Remedy brands originated in Providence, Rhode Island by ‘old’ Dr. James M. Solomon, who was the sole proprietor of a wide variety of Indian medicines that made him famous. Solomon apparently was gathering herbs and roots in the woods on this property and he decided to become a medicine man. Solomon was born in Seekonk, Bristol, Massachusetts in 1812 from parents John Solomon and Amey Hill. He was neither an Indian nor a Doctor though he milked these titles with extreme efficiency in marketing his medicines. Later advertising touted him as “The Great Indian Medicine Doctor” and “The Root and Herb Doctor”. He sold his homemade remedies to the Ashley Drugstore on Park Avenue in Attleboro, Massachusetts for many years. The remedies were sold as “Old Doctor Solomon’s Indian Bitters.”
Dr. James M. Solomon Jr., the seventh son, would carry the brand forward and later travel from hotel to hotel selling the Old Dr. Solomon Indian concoctions. He was based out of Attleboro, Massachusetts and apparently a graduate of the Columbia Medical College in New York. He was noted as a physician of skill and experience, standing high in his profession.
Dr. James M. Solomon driving his medicine buggy with side graphics reading “Old Dr. Solomon’s Indian Bitters”.
He would place an ad in local newspapers with his picture, preparing for his visit and lining up patients and customers. Sometimes he would travel with a group of Penobscot Indians who would appear at the hotel, street corner or local Opera House for an evening of entertainment consisting of music, songs, marriage ceremonies and of course, you could buy his medicines and cures. Some of the Indian Remedies included Old Dr. Solomon’s Indian Wine Bitters, Old Dr. Solomon’s Rheumatic Drops, Old Dr. Solomon’s Anti-Bilious Pills, Old Dr. Solomon’s Indian Catarrh Cure, Old Dr. Solomon’s Indian Ointment, Dr. Solomon’s Nervine. Dr. Solomon’s Cough Cure, Dr. Solomon’s Indian Worm Tablets, Dr. Solomon’s Indian Hair Renewer and Dr. Solomon’s Indian Tooth Powder.
The Great Indian Doctor, Dr. James. M. Solomon, Jr. – Fitchburg Sentinel, Thursday, January 29, 1885
Second Annual Tour of the Great Indian Doctor, Dr. Jas. M. Solomon, Jr. – Fitchburg Sentinel, Monday, August 17, 1885
Dr. James M. Solomon Jr. dreamed of a great hospital and sanatorium which he would one day build in Attleboro. Here people would come from all corners of the world to be healed and cured of that dread disease, cancer. The project finally opened but would run out of operational funds a few years later. He would then pack up his show and reappear in Boston touting his cures for cancer.
Solomon’s new Hospital in Attleboro – Boston Post, Sunday, October 29, 1893
Photograph of Solomon’s Sanitarium – Attleboro by Victor Bonneville, Paula T. Sollitto
THE SOLOMON DRUG COMPANY, Office and Laboratory, No. 35 Hartford Street.
This company was organized September 29, 1892. It is incorporated under the laws of the State of Maine, and has a capital of $75,000. Dr. James M. Solomon is president of the company and F. H. Hodges is secretary, treasurer and manager. The premises occupied as laboratory are commodious and well-equipped for the purpose, all conveniences being provided. The facilities are ample and excellent, and a number of people are employed in the several departments. The Solomon Drug Company are proprietors and manufacturers of a highly meritorious class of pharmaceutical specialties, which are in extensive and rapidly growing demand.
Solomon’s Indian Remedies are noted for their curative properties, and are sold by druggists throughout the country. They include the following well-known preparations:—Old Dr. Solomon’s Indian Wine Bitters, Old Dr. Solomon’s Rheumatic Drops, Old Dr. Solomon’s Anti-Bilious Pills, Old Dr. Solomon’s Indian Catarrh Cure, Old Dr. Solomon’s Indian Ointment, Dr. Solomon’s Nervine. Dr. Solomon’s Cough Cure, Dr. Solomon’s Indian Worm Tablets, Dr. Solomon’s Indian Hair Renewer, Dr. Solomon’s Indian Tooth Powder. These are prepared from carefully selected and best ingredients for the different purposes, in accordance with regular formulae, the result of years of experience and experiment, and are remedies of exceptional merit, some of them being specifics. They are sold to the trade by the dozen, or gross, and all orders are promptly filled. Price-list and terms are furnished upon application, and all correspondence will receive immediate attention.
Dr. Solomon is a practitioner, with office at No. 75 Court Street, and is a noted specialist in chronic diseases. He is a graduate of the Columbia Medical College, New York, and a physician of skill and experience, standing high in his profession. Dr. Solomon was born in Attleboro, Mass., and lives there, his residence being one of the finest in that town. He is building a private hospital, which will cost $23,000, on the highest and most attractive spot in Attleboro, and has purchased between 300 and 400 acres of ground surrounding the site, which he intends converting into a park, in connection with the institution. Mr. Hodges, who has sole charge of the laboratory, has had fourteen years’ experience with this house and understands every detail of this business, being an excellent chemist and well-known in the community, being a member of the Knights of Pythias and other organizations.
Boston and Bostonians By American Publishing and Engraving Co. (N.Y.), 1894
James M. Solomon, M.D. now working out of Boston – The Boston Daily Globe, Sunday, December 3, 1905
Dr. James M. Solomon, Inc. “No Knife, No Pain, No Blood” advertisement, Boston, Mass. – Fitchburg Sentinel, Monday, October 14, 1907
Select Listings:
1812: Birth of Dr. James M. Solomon in Massachusetts.
1840: James M. Solomon living in Bristol, Massachusetts. Age 28 – United States Federal Census
1867: James M. Solomon, Physician, North Attleboro, Mass. – The Massachusetts Register
1869 – 1877: 1877 Advertisement (see below) Old Dr. James M. Solomon “Indian Doctor” – Attleboro Massachusetts City Directory
1870: Book: Indian Wine Bitters & Rheumatic Drops. For Sale by All Druggists. … The Greatest Blood Purifier and Liver and Kidney Cure in the World. … Prepared by Dr. James M. Solomon, Jr., Attleboro, Mass – Donaldson Brothers, Five Points, N.Y., 1870
1870: Dr. James M. Solomon, Physician, age 58, birth 1812, living in Attleboro, Massachusetts, James M. Solomon, Jr., Carriage Painter – United States Federal Census
1880: Notice (see below): James M. Solomon Jr. assaults Patrick Whalen – Boston Post, Wednesday, May 19, 1880
1885: Solomon and his troupe make an appearance notice – Fitchburg Sentinel, Monday, January 26, 1885
