Dr. Wallace Calvin Abbott and Abbott Laboratories

Abbott Laboratories dates back to 1888, when physician Dr, Wallace C. Abbott started producing dosimetric granules in the kitchen of his apartment.

Dr. Wallace began to practice medicine in Chicago in 1886. Troubled by the indefinite and changeable results that he had obtained from the use of unstandardized fluid extracts and tinctures, he began to study the experiments of the Belgian dosimetrist, Burgraeve.

The innovation gave a competitive edge because it provided a more accurate and effective dosing mechanism for patients than other treatments available at the time.

In 1888 Dr, Wallace C. Abbott established a company in Chicago to employ a new technique for the preparation of drugs, which involved precipitating them into solid extracts and then selling them in granules. 

The business went through all the normal development of a small firm starting as a family operation, expanding to take ‘outsiders’ moving into advertising and catalogue selling of health products and using the name Abbott Alkaloid Company.

After the incorporation of the enterprise in 1900, the manufacture of other types of products was undertaken and the nucleus of a chemical research staff was formed.

By 1906, the company had increase its sales force to reach doctors, and by 1910, it had opened its first European agency in London and branches in New York.

In 1920, the company moved to a new site in North Chicago, and Dr, Wallace C. Abbott died in the following year.

Today, Abbott discovers, developed, manufactures and markets products and services from prevention and diagnosis, to treatment and cure.
Dr. Wallace Calvin Abbott and Abbott Laboratories

Abbott Laboratories

Abbott Laboratories was founded by industrious doctor named Wallace Abbott in 1888, when he started producing dosimetric granules in the kitchen of his apartment in Ravenswood, Illinois.

Wallace C. Abbot was born to to Luther Abbott, a farmer and his wife Wealtha Barrows.

He work on the family farm and at age 20 he set out to obtain a formal education. Within a short years he graduated from University of Michigan Medical School.

He was particularly dissatisfied with the liquid medication that was popular.

He began to manufacture his own pills in the kitchen of the apartment behind his drugstore. Abbott called his pills he’d created “dosimetric granules,” and they were so successful that his sales in the first year of operation amounted to some $2,000.

By 1890 , Abbott’s granule business was quickly growing. He expanded his business into a two storey house.

In 1894, he made a key requisition – The Alkaloidal Clinic – a medical journal.

In 1900 Abbott formally incorporated the Abbott Alkaloidal Company. By 1915 the company had adopted its present name, Abbott Laboratories and had move into international business, selling over 700 Abbott products to 1,000 physicians in Europe and 500 in Latin America.

Dr. Abbott died on July 4, 1921 at the age of 63. He had built a million dollar business empire of his faith that the practice of medicine could be greatly improved innovative pharmaceuticals.

In 1929, Abbott Laboratories went public and seven years later it unveiled its first major research breakthrough: the anesthetic pentothal.

In 1952, Abbott scientists discovered a powerful new antibiotic called erythrocin

Abbott now is a US leader in sales of infant formula and a worldwide leader in sales of diagnostics products. Abbott Laboratories also discovers, develops, manufacturers and markets products and services – from prevention and diagnosis, to treatment and cure.
Abbott Laboratories