Pluto Water facts for kids

Antique bottle of Pluto Water

Pluto Water was a trademark for a strongly laxative natural water product which was marketed in the United States in the early 20th century. The water's laxative properties were from its high native content of mineral salts, with the active ingredient listed as sodium and magnesium sulfate, which are known as natural laxatives. The water's high native content of mineral salts generally made it effective within one hour of ingestion, a fact the company emphasized in their promotional literature. Company advertisements stated the laxative was effective from a half-hour to two hours after ingestion. In 1919, it took 450 railroad cars to transport the bottler’s output.

Distribution

The water was bottled at the French Lick Springs, in French Lick, Indiana, a location with natural mineral springs that was also the source of the competing Sprudel Water.

Laxative properties

The water's high native content of mineral salts generally made it effective as a laxative within one hour of ingestion, a point emphasized in the company's promotional literature. Company advertisements stated the laxative was effective from a half-hour to two hours after ingestion. The active ingredient of Pluto water was listed as sodium and magnesium sulfate, which are known as natural laxatives. The water also contains a number of other minerals, most notably lithium salts. The sale of Pluto water was halted in 1971.

Advertising

Advertised as "America's Laxative", Pluto Water used the slogan "When Nature Won't, PLUTO Will". The bottle and many advertisements featured an image of Pluto, the Roman god of the underworld, reflecting the water's underground origin.

Gallery

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  "Pluto Spring", French Lick, 1903

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  Escape artist Harry Houdini (left) posing near Pluto Spring poster, c.1907

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  Newspaper advertisement, 1918

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  Louis Armstrong in his dressing room, a bottle of Pluto Water at left, 1946

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  "America's Greatest Laxative"

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  Grand-stand baseball (graphic) - Pluto Water. America’s greatest physic for constipation, stomach and kidney, liver troubles. 15 (cents). 35 (cents). All drug stores. Ask your doctor. c.1895

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  "PLUTO FOR SPANISH INFLUENZA" "Guard against this dread epidemic" "Pluto water, America's physic, is influenza's natural foe" detail, from- Pluto Water 1918 For Spanish Flu

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  Pluto Water ad detail in 1894

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  Pluto Concentrated Water label, French Lick, Indiana, 1901

See also

• Lithia water