Samuel Johnson’s quote about patriotism being the last refuge of a scoundrel has never been more evident than today.

We shamelessly use patriotism to sell everything: cars, insurance, banks, soft drinks, beer, movies, clothes, airlines, records, sports equipment; any- and everything.

We’re just a few days from the Super Bowl and it’ll be interesting to see how patriotism will play out in the Super Bowl ads Madison Avenue will roll out for the occasion.

My guesses for the day: Seattle Seahawks 20, New England PATRIOTS 14, and lots of stirring, patriotic-laced ads.

It isn’t as if we’re the only scoundrels to use the likes of Garfield the Cat, giant Clydesdales or a little gecko to sell stuff by playing upon patriotic themes.

In years past Ronald Reagan hawked Chesterfields, Maybelline went red, white and blue in ads, and Captain America, the comic book figure, urged Americans to support this and that.

I recently came across this ad from 1910 for Dr. Pierce’s Golden Medical Discovery.

It gets my nod for the most outrageous and creative use of patriotism in the 20th century.

The ad, under the single word “Patriotism,” had a black and white figure drawn with a rifle, canteen and bedroll on his shoulder and wearing a hat and knee-high boots.

The strong-looking figure looked more 19th century than 20th, but the message is, I guess, workable in any age, including ours. The advertisement read:

“The stomach is a larger factor in ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ than most people are aware. Patriotism can withstand hunger but not dyspepsia. (Note: For those under 80 years of age, just consider dyspepsia indigestion or that bloated feeling.) The confirmed dyspeptic ‘is fit for treason, stratagems and spoils.’ The man who goes to the front for his country with a weak stomach will be a weak soldier and a fault finder.”

And then this: “A sound stomach makes for good citizenship as well as for health and happiness.”

From this 1910 ad I conclude the following:

 Anyone with irritable bowel syndrome or anything akin to that, including indigestion, cannot be a good citizen or patriot. Indeed, those people are borderline “treasonous” at worst, “fault-finders” to say the least.

A weak stomach equals a weak soldier.

A shot of Dr. Pierce’s Golden Medical Discovery, however, “builds up the body with sound flesh and solid muscle.”

I’m including the address for Dr. Pierce’s Golden Medical Discovery and here it is from the 1910 ad itself: World’s Dispensary Medical Association, R. V. Pierce, M.D., President, Buffalo, N.Y.

I’ve included the address for those who might eventually purchase a car or a case of beer based on some moving Super Bowl ad.

I would urge you to drop the good doctor a line and purchase his miracle poultice of patriotism.

I assure you, ol’ Doc Pierce’s heart was in his product every bit as much as the next fellow selling his wares against the backdrop of Old Glory or the strains of “America the Beautiful.”

Bob Morgan is a retired, award-winning journalist and author.