They say a spoonful of sugar (or a square of chocolate) helps the medicine go down, but not so with the fishy potion known as Scott’s Emulsion.
In the 19th century, a daring pharmacist set out on a quest to conquer the brutal Norwegian winters with a secret weapon — fermented fish livers, aka cod liver oil.
Bạn đang xem: Did you grow up with Scott's Emulsion, the 'health' elixir made from cod liver oil?
But there was a catch (or should we say a “fishy” twist). While the concoction was a nutrient powerhouse, it tasted foul.
We are about to enter a world where health meets the high seas and dive headfirst into a health elixir testing the toughest of tastebuds over generations.
What is Scott’s Emulsion?
Alfred B Scott, and his partner Samuel W Bowne, began experimenting in 1873 to produce a more palatable preparation of cod-liver oil.
Three years later in 1876 they established their firm Scott and Bowne in New York and began marketing Scott’s Emulsion.
It was marketed as having “remarkable curative effects” for everything from consumption, chronic coughs, bronchitis, anaemia and “general debility”.
Scott’s Emulsion was sold around the world with marketing aimed at parents and their children. (National Library of Medicine, public domain)
The brand became known for the famous image of “the man with the fish”, which used widely in advertising.
The image was inspired by a fisherman with a record-breaking catch Scott saw while he was in Norway on a business trip and became Scott and Bowne’s trademark.
The initial marketing for Scott’s Emulsion was directed at parents with “delicate, wasting children.” And they drank the Kool-Aid.
‘Gagging just thinking about it’
A recent post on ABC Northern Tasmania’s Facebook page, asking whether as a child you were given your daily dose of Scott’s Emulsion before school and remembered the taste, had stomachs churning.
Xem thêm : Melatonin
Vintage bottles of Scott’s Emulsion are still sold online. (Supplied)
Yuk. I can still taste it 30 years later – Ebony Hodgins.
Gagging just thinking about it. I know it was good for us but nasty stuff – Patty Wagner
It was the most disgusting thing in the whole world. We’d get a square of chocolate after a spoonful. It used to make me cry and dry retch. I told Mum I don’t want the cod liver oil and I don’t want the chocolate either – Anke Skrandies.
Others meanwhile seemed confused between cod liver oil and fish oil.
It’s fish oil, we had a teaspoon every day. It comes in capsules now, so you don’t get the unpleasant taste – Ian Watson
Not quite — there is an important difference.
How cod liver oil differs from fish oil
Jemma O’Hanlon is a dietician and explains how cod liver oil is different to fish oil.
A Dutch boy sits forlornly while staring at a bottle of “levetraan” — cod liver oil (Unsplash: Netherlands National Archives)
“Cod liver oil is derived from the liver of codfish — specifically the Atlantic cod — and is made by extracting oil from the liver tissue,” she says.
“Fish oil is typically from the body tissues of various fatty fish species, like salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, and anchovies.”
Fast forward to today’s world, which is filled with cutting-edge pharmaceuticals, fancy health supplements, and wellness trends, Scott’s fishy elixir continues to fly off shelves around the globe.
However, unlike the pungent and bitter cod liver oils of the past, Scott’s Emulsion now comes in a variety of flavours including orange, lemon, and even strawberry.
One person’s pain is another’s pleasure
But taste perception is highly subjective, and what one person finds unpleasant, another may not mind — or even enjoy.
I loved it. I can practically still taste it – Wendy Flaherty
Loved it – Audrey Dalgleish
Yes, I loved it and can still imagine the taste today – Pauline Edmunds
“I think [Scott’s Emulsion] obviously changed over time in terms of trying to make it taste better,” Ms O’Hanlon says.
“My view on this supplement is that there are some great vitamins in it; vitamin A, vitamin D, and it’s got omega-3s in there.”
How Scott’s Emulsion has changed with the times
Over the years, Scott’s Emulsion has undergone various packaging changes and marketing campaigns.
It has been sold in distinctive glass bottles, plastic containers, and other forms, depending on the region and time.
It stands as a testament to the ingenuity of Alfred B Scott and Samuel W Bowne, who transformed a fishy challenge into a nutritional legacy.
From its humble beginnings in combating Norwegian winters, the medicinal elixir (with a few tweaks here and there) seems to have weathered the test of time.
As with any dietary supplement, consulting a healthcare professional is wise, ensuring that it aligns with your health goals.
Nguồn: https://buycookiesonline.eu
Danh mục: Info
This post was last modified on November 27, 2024 11:34 am