Transparent rounded rectangular based glass Dreco Stomach Tonic and Alternative bottle (a) with non-removable cylindrical grey metal screw cap, beige and navy rectangular cardboard box (b) with removable brown rectangular corrugated cardboard box liner (c); bottle three quarters full with brown liq…
Transparent rounded rectangular based glass Dreco Stomach Tonic and Alternative bottle (a) with non-removable cylindrical grey metal screw cap, beige and navy rectangular cardboard box (b) with removable brown rectangular corrugated cardboard box liner (c); bottle three quarters full with brown liquid; flat rectangular front and back walls with top arch; back wall recessed; flat rectangular side walls with product name embossed; round shoulders taper to short cylindrical neck, round neck ring, and cylindrical finish with external lug type thread; rectangular push-up, circular mold mark, and manufacturer information embossed on bottom; mold lines on sides from base to top and around neck; rectangular white and navy paper label with product information and directions in English on front and smaller label with information and directions in French on back; cap has vertical indents on sides and flat top; box has product information and directions in English on front and proper left side and in French on back and proper right sides bordered in decorative geometric patterns; corrugated liner folded into rectangular box shape with open top and bottom ends.
Number Of Parts
3
Part Names
a – bottle – Length 21.1 cm Width 6.9 cm Depth 3.7 cm
b – box – Length 25.1 cm Width 8.0 cm Depth 4.5 cm
c – box liner – Length 16.5 cm Width 7.7 cm Depth 4.3 cm
Printed on front bottle label: “DRECO // AN EFFECTIVE TONIC // AND ALTERNATIVE // A splendid Remedy for disorders arising from slug- // gish action or functional in- // activity of the liver, kidneys // and bowels. // DIRECTIONS // Take one tablespoonful three time a // day, best taken before meals. If it // acts too freely on the bowels, lessen // the dose: if it does not act free enough, // increase the dose. For children about // 12 years old, a tablespoonful three times // a day. // No. 9280. PROPRIETARY AND PATENT MEDICINE ACT // Distributed by // The DRECO CO. of CANADA // LIMITED. // BALTIMORE, U. S. A. and // MONTREAL, Canada.”; embossed on right and left sides of bottle: “DRECO”; embossed on bottom of bottle: “D”; printed on front of box: “DRECO // No. 9280 The Proprietary and Patent Medicine Act. // A // STOMACH TONIC // and ALTERNATIVE // A splendid remedy // for disorders arising // from sluggish action // or functional inac- // tivity of the liver, // kidneys and bowels. // PRICE $1.25 // DISTRIBUTED BY // Dreco Co. of Canada // LIMITED // MONTREAL, CANADA // also at // BALTIMORE U. S. A.”; printed on proper left side of box: “DRECO – For chronic constipation, biliousness, jaundice, sick headache lassitude and other disorders arising from chronic // inactivity of the stomach, liver and bowels. // In therapeutic activity it covers a wider range than that of simple cathartics since its tendency is to restore the organs con- // cerned in elimination of waste products to a state of normal healthy activity. // It is not intended as a purgative and for some persons it is not sufficiently laxative at the beginning. In such cases where // additional laxative action is necessary, we strongly recommend HI – SPEED LAXATIVE TABLETS to be taken in connection // with DRECO. The formula for these tablets was selected with great care in order that the best results possible would be // obtained from Dreco by their supplemental action.”
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A1-2 Row C
Permanent Location Notes
c located inside box (b)
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
Minor corrosion all over cap; minor tears in edges and areas of discolouration on bottom of back bottle label; minor discolouration all over front bottle label; front bottle label separated and creased at bottom; top of box missing; minor discolouration on front of box; major tears in top of box resulting in 6 separate pieces
Copy Type
original
Reference Types
Website
Document
Reference Comments
“Tonic.” Cambridge Dictionary. Cambridge University Press, 2019. Accessed 5 June 2019.
Lockhart, Bill et al. “The Dominion Glass Companies of Montreal, Canada.” Society for Historical Archaeology, 2015.
Research Facts
Tonics were used to improve ones general well being and were said to improve many different medical conditions; Dreco was marketed as a treatment for several ailments, including constipation, biliousness, jaundice, and headaches.
The D-in-diamond logo indicates the bottle itself was made by Canadian glass manufacturer Dominion Glass Company; the logo was introduced in 1928 and markings for dates were introduce in 1940; the lack of date marks suggests the bottle was manufactured between 1928 and 1940.