Appalachian History

The curse of Milk Sickness, part 2 of 2

Finally, in 1928, researchers isolated from white snakeroot a highly complex alcohol they named tremetol; THAT was the true cause.

Milk sickness was a frequent 19th century cause of illness and death throughout much of Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Ohio.

In his youth Daniel Trabue (1760-1840) served as a Virginia soldier in the Revolutionary War. He recorded this narrative in 1827.

William E. Brock’s company wasn’t the first to mass market them in the US. But Brock Candy was well positioned to become a major competitor.

The 1890’s brought economic boom to Covington, VA. The population jumped from 704 in 1890 to 2,950 in 1900.