Bitters were alcohol disguised as medicine. The practice of adding a small amount of herbal bitters to gin in order that it might be sold without taxation under the guise of medicinal liquor appears to have originated in England. Bottled bitters became popular in this country in the period from1850-1870, when a bitters binge was spurred on by laws which taxed liquor, the popularity of various temperance movements, and local restrictions on the liquor trade. In turn many liquor manufacturers began marketing their products in a wide variety of products. Stomach bitters were very popular. The makers of Hostetter's Stomach Bitters made millions of dollars. The product was even shipped to the Union troop by the boxcar load during the Civil War. Bitters bottles were sometimes put up in figural shaped bottles. These are highly collectible today. Bitters bottles can be found in the shape of cannons, pigs, Indians, cabins and barrels. Today old bottle collectors prize these containers. More than a 1000 different brands are known.