The single best-selling nostrum at the beginning of the 20th century. Peruna appeared on the market at some unknown date, probably in the late 1880s. The formula was discovered (or concocted) by S. B. Hartman of Columbus, Ohio, who believed that the bane of the human race was catarrh, an obsolete term referring to an inflammation of any mucous membrane accompanied by an increase of mucus. The most well-known example of catarrh is, of course, a common head cold with a runny nose. Hartman claimed that catarrh of all parts of the body afflicted humanity and that his product, Peruna, cured catarrh.
At some point in the early 1890s, as Hartman struggled to have Peruna recognized among the hundreds of competing panaceas, he received a surprise order from Waco, Texas, for a full rail car of his concoction. While his staff worked overtime to fill the order, Hartman went to Texas to meet Frederick W. Schumacher, the man who had placed the order. Hartman later hired Schumacher to develop his advertising program. Under Schumacher’s guidance, sales of Peruna rapidly increased, seemingly based upon the growing amount of newspaper advertising. It claimed among its supporters a variety of the rich, famous, and influential including a number of governors, congressional representatives, and senators.