In 1874 Dr. James Marsh's children were making him crazy. They were rambunctious and difficult. As a pediatric psychologist, this was particularly perplexing. His wife, Linda, came up with the solution...a mixture of gelatin, vanilla and confectioners sugar that she called mellofiers. These puffed balls of sugar had a profound effect on her children, calming them down for at least 30 minutes before they became slightly more hyper.

Dr. Marsh sold what he began calling the Marsh-Mellofiers to his patients for an additional 5 cents per dozen.