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.

Additional recommended knowledge

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Safe Weighing Range Ensures Accurate Results

How to quickly check pipettes?

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.