Verwon Says:
The Medicine Save The Baby
Updated
Comments Submitted Says:
Is the formula for Lee's Save the Baby (liquid in the glass bottle NOT the rub on salve) patent protected, does anyone know how to obtain the formula
69 Replies (4 Pages)
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It was made by the Lee's company and yes, it is patent protected.
The reason it is no longer available is that it contained Camphor, yes, even in the liquid that was taken internally and the FDA has recognized this as being unsafe. Camphor is now only approved to be used topically.
As to the other ingredients, I am sorry, I have been unable to discover that.
Does anyone else know?
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Diane Dolley Says:
We used Save the Baby in the 1970s and got it in Maine. It was made by a family in New York in the late 1800s. It contained Canadian Balsam and was suspended in a lard base. I would heat the bottle up and it would melt into the liquid. Then I would pour a teaspoon into a teaspoon of white sugar and give it to the kids to quiet their coughing. Also you could pour some into a pot of boiling water and breath in the vapors to clear your nose. Our kids are grown and still remember the comfort of Save The Baby. Sorry the FDA got involved.
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Sally Alligator Says:
If ANYONE knows the receipe for Lee's Save the Baby, please reply. I understand the formula is patented, but if I can get a list of ingredients, I will tinker w/it. Yes, I know the FDA stuck their nose in.....hmmm, how many of us actually DIED from: Save the Baby, mercurichrome, merthiolate and Rawleighs Internal Liniment?? (Which by the way you can still get, and it's still as awful, and it still works :))
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Scott Says:
petrolatum, camphor, oregano, rosemary, and balsam oil
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AbbiGail Says:
The one with petrolatum in it was the salve, not the syrup, right?
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Sally Alligator Says:
Save the baby came in a bottle but was quite thick in its consistency. I did not heat it up, but just holding the bottle in your hand helped to return it to a liquid state. Yes, it had camphor and/or balsalm in it. YES it really worked for congestion, your congestion either cleared right up or you threw up, and when you did, it was all phlegm. I do find it interesting that the FDA took it off, but left Vick's Vapo-Rub, which also has camphor, and when congestion gets severe, older people swallow a gob of it, as it then performs similiar relief. I watched my Dad do that for 25 yrs after save the baby left, and it sure didn't kill him. Trust me, NO one would have ever everdosed on either of these medicines, they were too too nasty.
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Cindy Says:
5% Camphor, white petroleum with oils of Oreganum, Rosemary and Canadian Balsam
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Charon Says:
I would love to find Save The Baby in liquid form. I remember my Mother rubbing it on my chest as a child. I am now 37 and on occasions where I have congestion, I wish I had Save The Baby. Has anyone used the one avail at this site http://www.elydrugs.biz/savethebaby.html and does it work just as well? Thanks for any help!
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Daisy Says:
Dr. Lee's Save-the-Baby was manufactured in North Creek NY. The chief ingredient was balsam oil from the tree. Contact the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake NY, www.adkmuseum.org for history, recipes, and more. Also the Johnsburg Historical Society, Wevertown NY would have lots of detail on who made it, where, and who he was in the larger world.
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AbbiGail Says:
Daisy, Charon, Cindy and Sally Alligator
Thank you all for your responses and information. I knew I wasn't the only one that knew how good that medicine was or what happened to it. Daisy- Thanks for letting me know where I could find more information. No other real info showed up on Google or anything and I was out of ideas as to where to look. Cindy - Thank you for the ingredient list. I may try to figure out how to combine these somehow. Thanks!
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daisy Says:
The adirondack museum did a big research project on balsam, and they even made balsam salve from directions given by an old-timer. this museum is about 50 miles from Dr. Lee/s.
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Darcelle Says:
I have an ear ache and the only thing that ever helped was to put Save The Baby on a piece of cotton and put it in your ear -- the warmth and the smell was so comforting! My mom never gave it to us orally - she used it as a rub (chest and across the nose for the stuffed nasal passages) and for ear aches. I really would like to be able to have some of this NOW!
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composerk Says:
No, it is not the same at all. I'm so disappointed. We bought a blue bottle without the "Krause" label 20 years ago and it worked well even though it was not like the original glass bottle formula. This "Krause" version smells different and isn't as soothing to breathe in. Also leaves a rash on my toddlers. Not good.
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queen Says:
The product you speak of do work. I use it with both of my children and sometimes myself. Although it is not quite the same as what was used on us as children ourselves. That was a liquid version which I think was more effective, but this ointment works well
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Minister duck Says:
My kids giggled as they heard me yelling in delight over your post. For years I told them about how my mother gave us Save the Baby and would have us eat a gob of Vicks rolled in sugar whenever we got congested. They thought I was nuts, but by golly it worked!!!
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Laureen Says:
My mom, who lived in ME recently passed away and I found an old bottle of Lee's Save the Baby in her medicine cabinet. It sure did bring back memories. We never took it orally. She just heated up the bottle in a pan of hot water and rubbed a little on our nose, forehead and chest. My grandson has a bad cold now and I told my daughter to go ahead and use it. It can't possibly expire, can it?
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Sharalee Falzerano Says:
Laureen-I am currently setting up a doctor's office in the town of North Creek. This is the town where Dr. William Lee practiced medicine for many many years eventually becoming the Town Health Officer. I know this is bold but any chance you would concider allowing us to display your bottle of "Save The Baby" in the exhibit that should run through the fall at which time it will be returned to you.
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Katy Alund Says:
i live in the capital region area- my husband's grandmother is the picture of the woman one the bottle- i would love to find an old bottle with the labe intact- let me know if anyone can help!!
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sabrina Says:
you can buy the stuff on ebay
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Laura Says:
I have a Bottle of Lee's Save The Baby in the Original Box in Good Condition. The back label of the bottle is torn but still intact.a small piece of the front label is torn off very bottom right edge. Over all in good condition. Also has instruction sheet inside box in Great shape.
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Most Recent Replies:
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Gail Says:
Re: Sally Alligator (# 6) 
The reason the FDA banned it was it determined camphor unsafe to take orally and I guess some people used it that way. Camphor can be used externally as a rub like in Vick’s vapor rub. We always only warmed it and rubbed it on the chest. Worked better than anything else. Wish it was still made for external use only.
BTW you can buy Dutchman’s Save The Baby out of Iowa. I just ordered some.
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T L M M Says:
Re: Verwon (# 1)
https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_724639
This has all the information on Save The Baby. I get goosebumps just remembering the taste! We should have never ingested this medicine! Unsafe. Caused seizures and death and has been linked to liver damage.
Good times back in 70's LOL!
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Penny Silvia Costin Says:
Re: Charon (# 8)
I remember save the baby I am 71 my brother had croup. I was used by my mother all the time. I believe it kept him alive. Remember just because it's old does not mean it was wrong.
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oriole Says:
Re: Sally Alligator (# 3)
One of the stipulations sets forth that an analysis was made by an analyst of the United States Department of Agriculture of a sample of the shipment seized in these proceedings which shows that the composition and ingredients of the preparation are:
"Lard approximately 70% "Alcohol approximately 6% "Canada Balsam approximately 10% "Volatile Oils, including "Camphor, Rosemary Oil and "Origanum Oil, approximately 15%"
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Lynda Says:
Re: Verwon (# 1)
This was what we used on our babies in the 80's as bug repellent-- best stuff ever. Liquid in the glass bottle
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Dee Says:
Re: Keri (# 23)
What web site do you get it from? I used it on my children 40 years ago and would love to have it for my grandchildren.
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Batman Says:
Re: Verwon (# 1)
I own an original body of it and the instructions.
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Olrascal Says:
One of the fondest memories of my childhood was when my mother would rub warmed Save the Baby on my chest and cover it with a piece of flannel. No matter how miserable you were, it always made you feel better. I never heard of swallowing it though. I wish this product was still available!
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Joyce Says:
I was 6 months old with a bad upper respiratory infection! My godmother went to town and got 'save the baby'. I was told it saved my life! Wish I could get it somewhere again! I am now grown up but have asthma and still get respiratory infections.
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Audrey D Says:
If you still have that would you please post a picture of the ingredients or list them for me? Even if I don't have the amounts it would be great to know what was in it. Please and thank you.
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