The majority of ‘patent medicines’ on both sides of the Atlantic were not and never had been patented.

On 29th October 1755 a patent was granted to Robert Walker of London for "A new invented medicine, called Jesuit's drops ...".

"BY THE KING's ROYALL PATENT GRANTED TO ROBt TURLINGTON FOR HIS INVENTED BALSAM OF LIFE. LONDON. JANy 26 1754." Turlington used at least thr