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I wonder who first looked at a cow and said, "I think I'll squeeze those dangly things and drink whatever comes out?" Well, those 'dangly things' were the inspiration for a wonderful company that has endured for more than a century.
Polly Tribe's great grandfather was Dr. Gilbert Hess, a famed inventor and remedy developer. In 1893 - 116 years ago - Dr. Hess teamed up with businessman J. L. Clark and started Hess and Clark, a farm remedies company. One of their best known products was Udder Ointment, originally developed to treat chapped teats and udders of dairy cattle. Not long after its introduction, farmers recognized the ointment's healing effect on their own hands. Chronic dryness and cuts were quickly remedied on cows and farmers.
The company grew and prospered as the product lines expanded. Vick Chemical purchased the company in 1955, which started a string of buyouts over the following years. With each buyout of the Hess and Clark product line, Udder Ointment became more of a tangent product as the focus increased on the company's chemical products such as pesticides and powder treatments. When the Udder Ointment was discontinued, pleading calls came from around the country asking the company to make the product available again.
Polly Tribe and her husband, Tyler, in North Salt Lake, secured the rights to produce and market the Udder Ointment her great grandfather invented. The product is manufactured in Utah and is sold to independent retailers nationwide. Polly has also introduced additional products to the company's offerings, including Dr. Hess Baby Butts, a diaper rash treatment to ease the rough spots and soothe burning, offering relief to both mom and baby, and Dr. Hess Udder Stick that works wonders on chapped lips. But Udder Ointment is still the best known product.
Pharmacists recommend the skin cream for dry skin, chapped lips, cracked heels, diaper rash, athletic chafing, eczema and burn abrasions. And don't forget it's still great on cow's udders!
