Historical Marker

Headache Springs, C. S. A. Medical Laboratory

Historical marker location:
Tyler, Texas
( SH 64, 2.9 mi. SE of downtown Tyler)
Marker installed: 1965

A quarter mile north of this site is "Headache Springs," noted for its healing mineral waters.

During the Civil War, as sea blockades cut off imports, a Confederate medical laboratory operated here. One of nine, and only one west of Mississippi River. For the government it made medicines and whiskey. The army at this time was buying medicinal herbs, including poke root, snakeroot, mullein, jimson weed, Jerusalem oak, nightshade, mistletoe and cherry bark. With mineral salts, these were the medicines of desperation.