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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