About twelve miles west of Columbus lay the small town of Borden, founded by, and named for Gail Borden, Jr., the inventor of condensed milk, which we know as Eagle Brand. Mr. Borden was also well known in the mid 1800’s for his “meat biscuit”, a product made of meat boiled down to the consistency of molasses, then mixed with flour and baked. According to Mr. Borden, 125 pounds of veal could be reduced to 10 pounds of this concentrated extract. The resulting biscuits would keep for months without spoiling and provided easily carried rations for travelers or military troops. They could also be pulverized and boiled with water to make a tasty, nutritious, and easily digested soup. Mr. Borden, however, was convinced the beef broth could be preserved without the addition of flour. After many experiments, he was able, by the use of a “vacuum pan,” to evaporate the liquid down to a nut brown gummy substance which readily dissolved in hot water. This extract was packaged and used widely by physicians, travelers, and explorers.
During the yellow fever epidemic of 1873 in Columbus, Dr. Robert Henry Harrison, a local physician, stayed in town, and treated the stricken. He kept a minutely detailed, patient by patient, daily account of this period. Later, the names of those who died were selected from this journal and a list was published with any additional information available about those persons.
There was no specific treatment of this mosquito borne horror. Palliative measures consisted of reducing the high fever with wet compresses and supplying plenty of fluids. As the fever receded, a light and easily digested diet was of great importance. Borden’s extract of beef, made into beef tea was ideal for this purpose. It was convenient for immediate use, could be prescribed in varying strengths, and provided nonirritating nourishment for the weakened patients. According to Dr. Harrison, Mr. Borden provided an ample supply of his beef tea through out the epidemic.
Gail Borden, Jr. (1801-1874) was born in NY, but lived in Indiana and Mississippi before arriving in Texas in 1829. He was a surveyor, inventor, philanthropist and newspaper publisher, perhaps best known for founding the Borden Company. He died in Borden TX in 1874 and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY.