Herbal Balm

This is the last of my tins.

Zam-Buk, although African sounding in name was invented in England and first appeared on chemists shelves in Great Britain in 1903 in a time before antibiotics. Zam-Buk was an important first-aid medicine for any cuts or abrasions of the skin, preventing infection which without treatment, could lead to certain death. By the middle of the 20th century, with the invention of penicillin and other antibiotics, Zam-Buk had disappeared from our medicine cupboards.

I have looked on the net and it has a fascinating history, especially in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. It is still made but I think the recipe has changed somewhat. I have looked at the pictures of the tins and although essentially the same design, I cannot find one that lists all of its healing powers. This tin is nearly full. The ointment is green and smells of a certain "Deep Heat" embrocation available today.