Administrative / Biographical History

According to Slugg, Lignum did not receive a medical education and was a quack. However, he was often referred to as John Lignum MD. Lignum was in practise in Bridge Street Manchester and was later joined by his sons Andrew and Edward (see above). His real name was believed to be Wood, but he changed his name to the Latin form. Lignum was the proprietor of 'Lignum's Antiscorbutic Drops', which by 1835 had been sold for nearly fifty years. Lignum's wife Mary died of consumption in 1798 and in the following year he married Mrs Sarah Nelson. Lignum probably died in 1826, although in 1835 an advertisement was placed in Manchester Guardian for 'John Lignum and Son's Antiscorbutic drops, lotion and ointment'.