Vintage Apothecary
Take a sip (or two) and call me in the morning
Little Tub Whiskey, by Old W. S. Stone, 100 proof, Kentucky
By Kara Sweet
The National Prohibition Act of 1919 included an exemption that allowed doctors to prescribe alcohol to patients, and pharmacists to dispense it. The only other exemption was the use of alcohol for religious sacraments.
The American Medical Association, initially a supporter of Prohibition, adjusted its stance in 1922 and stated that alcohol could be used to treat 27 different ailments, including asthma and cancer. The standard amount prescribed was a pint every ten days.
In reality, these spirited prescriptions were more of a way for doctors and pharmacists to make a little extra money, than to treat diseases. In fact, it proved to be quite lucrative: “Patients” would pay their doctor $3 for the prescription, then pay their pharmacist another $3 to fill it. Adjusted for inflation, that’s about $40 each!
By the late 1920s, the number of violations was more than state and local law enforcement officials could handle. The jails were overflowing and the number of federal court cases had quadrupled. The act was finally dismantled in 1933.