347 
“PYRETIC SALTS.” 
Lamplough v . Balmer. 
The plaintiff in this suit, who is a chemist and druggist in Holborn, claims to have 
invented, in 1833. an effervescing preparation called “Lamplough’s Pyretic Salts,” and 
also “ Lamplough’s Effervescing Pyretic Saline/’ which has acquired considerable repu¬ 
tation in this country, and also in tropical countries, especially in the East and West 
Indies and Africa, in cases of fever and cholera. The defendant, who is a retail chemist 
in St. John’s Street Road, Islington, has for some time acted as the plaintiff’s agent for 
the sale of “pyretic salts;” but, as the bill alleges, has recently been selling what he 
calls “Balmer’s Effervescing Pyretic Salt,” in bottles similar to those used by the plain¬ 
tiff,—resorting, according to plaintiff’s view, to what has been elsewhere termed “the un¬ 
tradesmanlike falsehood” of saying “it’s the same concern, only you get more for your 
money.” In restraint of such sale and on the ground that “ pyretic salts ” was a term 
of art appropriated by the plaintiff to the preparation of which he was the first and true 
inventor, so that any one asking for pyretic salts would intend the compound of the 
plaintiff, the present bill was filed. 
The defendant’s case was that the plaintiff was not entitled to appropriate, and, as it 
were, claim a patent right in the term “ pyretic salts,” which was a term well-known in 
medicine; and that there was no secret in the preparation of the compound to any skil¬ 
ful chemist. He also insisted that his own preparation was not at all inferior to that of 
the plaintiff, and was substantially the same, being composed of the same or similar in¬ 
gredients. Among the numerous advertisements put forward by the plaintiff was a 
small pamphlet devoted to setting forth the manifold virtues of the genuine pyretic 
salts as prepared by Mr. Lamplough, and their wondrous efficacy in maladies of all kinds 
for both man and beast. The following passage from the pamphlet created some amuse¬ 
ment when read out to a more than usually crowded court, and will bear quotation:— 
“Recommended by the elete (sic ) of the profession as peculiarly adapted to the many 
complaints prevalent in this as well as tropical climates, the effects of hot weather being 
to promote undue perspiration by withdrawing the saline fluid from the body has proved 
the cause of the physical changes it then sustains. Man and the inferior creations are 
similarly affected. The brute creation (led by instinct) strikingly illustrate the neces¬ 
sity of supplying salines to the system. The buffaloes in the interior of America suffer 
from fever, and instinctively seek the vivifying draught of the salt lakes,— wild by 
nature, and shunning the haunts of man when in health, they dare at this period the 
hand of the destroyer; wasted by burning fever and thirst, they seek the relief Provi¬ 
dence has provided for them in the abounding salt lakes of the country, of which, after 
partaking freely, they recover their natural health, and return to their native woodland 
pastures with renewed vigour— 
“ ‘ Shall man, the great master of all! 
The only insensible prove ?’ 
No. Lamplough’s Pyretic Salts are appreciated by thousands,” etc. 
Mr. Druce, Q C,, and Mr. Dundas Gardiner were for the plaintiff ; Mr. Willcock, Q.C., 
and Mr. Cracknall for the defendant. 
The Vice-Chancellor directed the motion to stand over until the first seal day after 
Term, observing that though he was very clear as to the defendant’s demerits, he was 
not so convinced of the merits of the plaintiff. Many points in his case required ex¬ 
planation before the Court could grant him relief. For instance, the name of Dr. Stevens 
had been used on the wrapper, and some of the advertisements were ingeniously worded 
so as to convey the impression that that gentleman had really recommended the plain¬ 
tiff’s preparation. Ttien there was that most extraordinary statement that out of 465 
prisoners in Coldbath Fields Penitentiary, 461 had recovered from cholera and other 
diseases by the use of this preparation. The Court, no doubt, was every now then com¬ 
pelled to protect all sorts of absurdity, but it could not be asked to assist absolute false¬ 
hood. The plaintiff would have the opportunity of giving explanation upon these 
points of doubt in his case by the motion being ordered to stand over until the first seal 
after Term. 
