One area of Veterinary collecting that has been overlooked so far in V.C.R. has been the tin lithographed medicine can. This issue will spotlight The Newton Horse Remedy Company, the producer of some of the most beautiful and graphic Veterinary tin cans.
John V. Newton, a native of Toledo, Ohio, graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College. Upon his graduation, he returned to Toledo to establish his Veterinary practice. The Toledo City Directory of 1878-1879 lists the location as "Myers' Barn on the alley between Huron and Superior." His residence is listed as 99 Huron. An advertisement in the same directory states, "...Treats all Diseases of Horses and Cattle. Horses Examined and Certificates of Soundness furnished. Medicines for Horses and Cattle constantly on hand...." By 1882, his office and infirmary are listed as 299 St. Clair. His residence is 83 Oak.
In the 1886 edition of "Leading Manufacturers and Merchants of Ohio", John is described as, "One of the best known Veterinary Surgeons, in Ohio". It goes on to describe his infirmary as a two story facility, 25' x 125', with capacity of 50 horses. In keeping with our collecting interests, it states, "He keeps the requisite remedies and medications on hand...". I wonder if he was producing his own Newton's Cure by this time?
In the early 1890's, Dr. Newton's Veterinary practice must have beendoing very well. By 1890, he had added an associate to his Veterinary practice. Dr. Ora J. Carter V.S., also a graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College, is listed in the city directory as an associate in the firm of Newton and Carter. The business was now located at 435 St. Clair and contained an infirmary, livery and boarding stables. Their phone number, listed for the first time, was 544.
Sometime between 1890 and 1892 The Newton Horse Remedy Company was founded. The exact date is unknown at this time. The 1892 Toledo city directory lists the company for the first time. The officers are listed as, Dr. J. V. Newton (President), W. J. Walding (V.P.), Dr. Ora J. Carter (Secretary), and Fred F. Smith (Treasurer and Manager). The address for the company was 419 St. Clair, just up the street from Dr. Newton's infirmary.
The United States Patent Office lists two patent registrations for The Newton Horse Remedy Company prior to 1900. The first is for Marshall's Hoof Cure, registration #20739, dated 2/16/1892. Registrants were required to list the date that the product was first in use. In this case, it was listed as being in use since 1890. The second product patented by the company was Newton's Heave, Cough and Distemper Cure. It was given the registration number 20814 on 3/8/1892. It had been in use since 1890 also. The patented trademark was of a trotting horse with sulky and driver. The horse's internal skeleton was shown.
An existing example of Marshall's Hoof Cure product is unknown to me at this time. The Heave Cure exists today in the form of graphically lithographed tins. The tins are usually yellow or orange in color with black printing. Two sizes are available. See the illustrations in the back of the newsletter. One discrepancy exists which I point out at this time. The patent product name is listed as Newton's Heave, Cough and Distemper Cure, while the product is named Newton's Heave, Cough, Distemper and Indigestion Cure on existing tins. Anyone who has a Marshall's Hoof Cure or an early titled Heave Cure please let me know.
Dr. Newton and his company appear to part sometime in 1900. His partnership with Dr. Carter may have ended at this time also, as the city directory lists Dr. Newton's address as the county jail. No, he was not arrested. He was elected Sheriff of Lucas County. His business address was still 435 St. Clair. The Newton Horse Remedy Company listed W. J. Walding as President, Dr. O. J. Carter as Secretary, and Fred Smith as Manager. The business moved to 314 Jackson. Why Dr. Newton left or sold the business is unknown at this time. Perhaps a mid-life crisis propelled him into a career change. What ever his motivation for leaving, control of the company ultimately ended up in the hands of Fred F. Smith. By 1904, the company name changed to The Newton Remedy Company with Mr. Smith as the sole proprietor in the manufacture of Horse Remedies. This change of name never seems to be reflected on the company's products.
Dr. Newton's stint as Sheriff lasted no more than four years, as he was once again listed as a Veterinary Surgeon in 1904. His hospital and residence was 619 Walnut. As the next few years passed, Dr. Newton's fortunes continued to rise. In 1910, he took out an ad for the "J. V. Newton's Horse and Dog Hospital." He listed Dr. Reuben Hilty, V.S. and John M. Coffin, V.S. as associates.
A 1910 ad for the Newton Remedy Company still listed the name of it's most famous product as a "Cure", even though this was six years past the institution of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. The tin labeling was changed in 1916 from "Cure" to the word "Compound". Finally, ten years late, Fred Smith admitted he was not producing a "Cure". The company's 1910 ad gives collectors another interesting quest. It stated that one could write for and receive a free "Booklet". Does anyone have a Newton booklet?
Information remained basically unchanged until 1923. In that year, John Newton was listed as having a wife, Elizabeth E. Newton. This was the first information available about his family. Dr. John V. Newton passed away in 1925. His obituary made no mention of the company which bears his name, although product labels which still claimed use in his practice 25 years after that association had ended.
In 1930, the company again changed it's labeling. The old standard remedy was now named "Newton's Veterinary Compound". The label claimed no change in formula and was the same "as used by Drs. Newton and Carter in their Veterinary practice." This was at least five years after Dr. Newton had died.
Fred F. Smith himself died in 1932 but the Newton Horse Remedy Company apparently did not die with him. Tin cans having paper labels and the Newton trademark still exist. These cans show the business to be located in Detroit, MI. How the company changed hands, who the new owners were, and how much longer the company existed are all unanswered questions.
These Detroit cans do give us one final answer, the ingredients to the Heave Cure Dr. Newton developed way back in the 1880's. They are Tartar Emetic 2.4%, White arsenic 9/10 of 1%, Spanish Brown, and Hydrated Lime.
Newton tins, whether "Cure" or "Compound", will be a valuable addition to any collection. Newton postal covers or an elusive booklet would also be desirable go-withs.