Pyroligneine

Winchester, Tennessee: The Herald Print, 1905. Good. First edition presumed, n. d. (ca 1905); 5 3/4 x 3 1/4; pp. [1], 3-24; self-wraps printed in black; small chips to corners of back wrap; a few small spots; in good to very good condition.A curious Southern imprint, it was published as an advertisement for the Pyroligneine Company, which manufactured pyroligneous extract, also known as wood vinegar, as an antiseptic and anti-suppurant. In the current booklet, the liquid - a byproduct of a process, where wood or other plant biomass is heated in an oxygen-limited environment - was touted as a miracle solution to wound-dressing, surgeries, inflamation, and so on. A large part of the publication was dedicated to testimonials, both by physicians and by ordinary users.