patent medicine

a medicine sold without a prescription in drugstores or by sales representatives, and usually protected by a trademark.

a medicine distributed by a company having a patent on its manufacture.

Origin of patent medicine

First recorded in 1760–70

The beginning of modern advertising is in fact synchronous with the beginnings of the patent-medicine business.

Commercialism and Journalism |Hamilton Holt
Of course it has the patent-medicine flavor, too; Detroit, by her "slogan," is a cure-all.

Abroad at Home |Julian Street
Don't run away with the idea that conversion is a patent-medicine.

Mr. Prohack |E. Arnold Bennett
And among the voices were those of the agents who were selling my postcards, selling them like liniment in a patent-medicine show.

Land of the Burnt Thigh |Edith Eudora Kohl

That the only things farmers read are government documents and patent-medicine almanacs.

The American Credo |George Jean Nathan

patent medicine

a medicine protected by a patent and available without a doctor's prescription

patent medicine

[ păt′nt ]

A nonprescription drug or other medical preparation that is often protected by a trademark.