Bag Balm

Bag Balm is a salve originally intended to soothe irritation on cows' udders. Although the product only mentions use "For chapped conditions and superficial abrasions" it is used as a treatment for chapped and irritated skin on humans and can be found in drug stores and ski resorts. It has also gained popularity as a post-tattoo skin soother.

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Bag Balm is made by the Dairy Association Co. in Lyndonville, Vermont and Rock Island, Quebec. The product is known for its characteristic 10 oz green tins featuring a cow's head and red clovers on the lid. It has been in production since 1899.

The active ingredients of Bag Balm are 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate 0.3% (antiseptic) in a petrolatum and lanolin base.

Bag Balm used to contain 0.005 mercury `from ethylated sterols`. This earlier formulation was much more effective at fighting infection in wounds and was known to completely clear infected wounds overnight.