(a) Oval clear glass bottle with cylindrical neck and screw top; the bottle front and back curve slightly outwards; there is a printed paper label attached to the front which lists product information; full of brown ligquid; the back has embossed lettering; (b) metal screw top lid made to fit (a); …
(a) Oval clear glass bottle with cylindrical neck and screw top; the bottle front and back curve slightly outwards; there is a printed paper label attached to the front which lists product information; full of brown ligquid; the back has embossed lettering; (b) metal screw top lid made to fit (a); (c) one piece printed rectangular cardboard box made to house (a); the box has flaps at the top and bottom to open and close it and lists product information.
Number Of Parts
3
Part Names
a - medicine bottle - Size: Length 20.5 cm. x Width 8.0 cm. x Depth 4.5 cm.
b - lid - Size: x Width 1.0 cm. x Diameter2.6 cm.
c - cardboard box - Size: Length 21.5 cm. x Width 9.2 cm. x Depth 5.7 cm.
Provenance
Purchased by Dr. M.Chiong for his patent medicine collection
Bottle label reads, "LYDIA E. // PINKHAM // VEGETABLE // COMPOUND // No. 22105 // The Proprietary or Patent Medicine Act // Uses listed // Directions listed // cautions listed -- in English and French // LYDIA E. PINKHAM MEDICINE CO. // COBURG, ONTARIO, CANADA // CONTENTS: 14 1/2 FLUID OUNCES (428 cc) // LOT NO. 25"; bottle back embossed, "14 1/2 OZS // LYDIA E. PINKHAM // MEDICINE"; bottle bottom embossed " [square with a cross inside]
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A2-1 Row C
Temporary Location
On exhibit “Quack: The Exhibit that cures all” at Museum of Health Care, 29 June 2017.
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Dimension Notes
Bottle: Length 20.5 cm; Width 8 cm; Depth 4.5 cm. Box: Length 21.5 cm; Width 9.1 cm; Depth 5.6 cm.
Condition Remarks
(a) Bottle has no chips, cracks or wear; the front label shows minor water staining, but is complete and and fully legible; (b) the lid shows some corrosion on the outside edges; (c) the box shows some wear and the top flap back and one side have torn; the back has been taped on with Magic tape; all printing is legible
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Document
Reference Comments
"Bottles" by Michael Polak, p. 19; "The Great American Medicine Show" by David Armstrong & Elizabeth Metzger Armstrong, pp. 163-166; "Bottles and Bottlers, Canadian" by O. Urquhart, p. 46; "The Golden Age of Quackery" (hardcover ed., 1959) by Stewart H. Holbrook, pp. 32, 58-66, 98; see label from Dr. Chiong's exhibit, formerly at the Bracken Library
Research Facts
Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound was first marketed out of Lynn, Massachusetts in the mid-1870's and remained a family-run operation until sold to a pharmaceutical firm in 1968; medicine used to relieve symptoms of stress caused by menstruation and menopause and as a uterine sedative