Wednesday, 18 December 2024

Two Yellow Houses

 

Robert Augustus Chesebrough was a New York City chemist who clarified kerosene from the oil of sperm whales. The discovery of petroleum in Titusville, Pennsylvania quickly made his job obsolete. In 1859, Robert was visiting Titusville and noticed workers using the greasy buildup on the oil drilling rigs to treat their own cuts and burns. Robert patented the process for making petroleum jelly. He bottled his discovery, which he named “Vaseline.” Robert had a tough time convincing drug stores to sell it, until he staged demonstrations. He’d burn his own skin with an open flame, and daub jelly on his burn. Then he’d show off previous burns “healed” by his miracle product. By 1874, he was selling over 1,400 jars a day. Actually, Vaseline doesn’t heal at all. It forms a barrier, keeping moisture in and germs out. One of the leading causes of death in the 1800’s was infection from open wounds. 

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