Men take too much medicine, and too little exercise
— Photo by Jane McLean
Knox was the Pillbox Capital of the World. John Elberfeld attaches a pillbox replica to the display he put together in the Altamont Free Library to show Knox's contribution to the health care industry of the 1800s. Dr. W. W. Hall believed patent medicines were just a way to ingest opium and alcohol in a socially acceptable manner. Knox, on the other hand, produced millions of small, wooden pillboxes to contain these questionable medications.
— Scan by John Elberfeld
“The Best Gymnasium” is the title of this etching in Dr. W. W. Hall’s book. He favored outdoor exercise, stating, "The best gymnasium is a wood-yard, a 'clearing,' or a cornfield." He recommended: A million times better recipe than the gymnasium for a sedentary person is to, first, eat moderately and regularly of plain, nourishing food, well prepared, and, second, to spend several hours every day in the open air, regardless of the weather, in moderate, untiring, and useful activities.
To the Editor:
In 1869, Dr. W. W. Hall wrote The Guide-Board to Health, Peace and Competence, a 762-page book containing his recommendations for being happy and healthy. He summarized his entire book with:
— Men consume too much food, and too little pure air;
— They take too much medicine, and too little exercise.
I discovered this leather-bound book at the Saddlemire Homestead, Knox Historical Society's museum. In addition to Hall's helpful hints for remaining in good health, there were many fascinating full-page engravings that illustrated the points the author thought were most important.
Of special interest is his strong opposition to patent medicines, while Knox produced millions of wooden pillboxes for these very medicines.
Knox Historical Society is committed to sharing its collection of artifacts. In order to do this, I scanned the engravings, printed enlargements, and selected the text related to the pictures. These enlargements and explanatory texts are now on display at the Altamont Free Library.
What does Hall say is our only disease?
"There is naturally but one disease — that of old age. To leave the world as gently go out the embers of the hearth, or as the candle in the socket, without pain, or shock, or spasm — this is worth taking pains for! To have the lamp of life thus go out, physically, we must live regularly, temperately, actively. Reader! May such be your exit and mine."
Unfortunately, Dr. Hall failed to follow his own health advice.
I invite you to visit Altamont Free Library to learn about his life and see more pearls of wisdom from 145 years ago.
The original volume is at the Saddlemire Homestead in Knox. Contact me at [email protected] to arrange a tour of the museum. For more information about the Knox Historical Society, please visit www.KnoxHistoricalSociety.org (a work in progress).
John Elberfeld, treasurer
Knox Historical Society