A clear glass pharmacy bottle (a) with stopper (b); the bottle has a glass covered label on the front and a molded label on the back along with a sticker; there is a thick brown liquid inside the bottle.
A clear glass pharmacy bottle (a) with stopper (b); the bottle has a glass covered label on the front and a molded label on the back along with a sticker; there is a thick brown liquid inside the bottle.
Number Of Parts
2
Part Names
a - bottle - Size: Length 15.7 cm x Diam. 5.7 cm
b - stopper - Size: Length 4.8 cm x Diam. 3.2 cm
Provenance
Found in a cabinet in the donors' basement after they bought the house from John Briscoe of Briscoe's pharmacy which was located at 229 Princess Street in Kingston from 1954 to 1966; it is likely that Briscoe acquired the collection during his career as a pharmacists; This bottle was used to hold syrup of prusus virginiana (wild cherry bark); the bottle was originally a perfume bottle which was probably re-used as a pharmacy bottle.
"SYR. PRUNI V." printed on a label on the front; "JOHN TAYLOR & CO // PERFUMERS // TORONTO" embossed on the back; "CLIFFORD SINE // CITY // DRUG STORE // DRUGGIST // GANANOQUE. ONT." printed on a label on the back of the bottle; "ES // 15 oz" printed on the rear label in pencil; "W T & CO // A // U.S.A." embossed on the base
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A4-2
Condition Remarks
The glass covering over the label on the front is chipping, and the label is peeling.
Reference Types
Book
Internet
Reference Comments
"Elements of Pharmacy, Materia Medica and Therapeutics," Third Edition, by William Whitla, MD, Henry Renshaw, London, Eng. 1885; Kingston City Directories; Internet: "Determining the Age of Medicine Bottles: Dating your Medicine Bottles," Digger Odell Publications, 2004; "Identification and Price Guide, First Edition," by Michael Polak, Avon Books, New York, 1994
Research Facts
John Briscoe took over Bishop's Drugs Ltd in 1954; Bishop owned another store at 528 Princess Street from 1946 to 1954 and it had been a drug store under other ownership from 1923 until 1946; this is a possible origin of some of the collection.
A Native American medicinal staple, the bark of wild cherry is used for its medicinal properties; it is most commonly used to treat symptoms of respiratory ailments, such as colds and bronchitis; its sedative, drying, and expectorant properties make it a common ingredient in cough syrups; also used to treat pain and digestive disorders. Cherry bark is great at combating dry and irritable coughs. Overuse of cherry bark can be toxic.