Small rectangular tan paper box of Norforms Antiseptic Vaginal Suppositories; the box is in two parts, with a slip cover open at both ends (a) and a box open at the top (b) which slides into the cover; both of these have red print in English and French and the cover has gold; inside the box is a ca…
Small rectangular tan paper box of Norforms Antiseptic Vaginal Suppositories; the box is in two parts, with a slip cover open at both ends (a) and a box open at the top (b) which slides into the cover; both of these have red print in English and French and the cover has gold; inside the box is a cardboard divider (c) folded equally five times accordion style; inside a fold of the divider is a vaginal suppository (d) sealed in grey metal foil; the suppository is shaped like a semi-flattened cone; in the bottom of the box below the divider is a flat sheet of card with "NORFORMS" printed in brown in the centre of one side.
Number Of Parts
5
Part Names
a - cover: Length 8.1 cm X Width 3.4 cm X Height 4.3 cm
b - box: Length 8.0 cm X Width 3.2 cm X Height 4.1 cm
c - divider: Length 7.8 cm X Width 4.2 cm X Height 3.0 cm
d - suppository: Length 3.4 cm X Width 3.8 cm X Height 0.8 cm
Based on the registration of the trademark "Norforms" in Canada and the Smithsonian's record of a package of Norforms.
Material
paper: tan
ink: red, gold, brown
metal: grey
Inscriptions
Printed on top of cover (a): "Norforms®"; printed on front of cover: "ANTISEPTIC VAGINAL SUPPOSITORIES // Each Norforms is hermetically sealed to avoid leakage. // Norforms are of proper consistency for use at average // temperatures. In very hot weather keep in a cool place, or // hold, before unwrapping, under cold water for a few // minutes. // 50 // DEODORANT · GERMICIDAL"; printed on bottom of cover (some words obscured by water damage): "NORFORMS // ANTISEPTIC VAGINAL SUPPOSITORIES // EACH NORFORM [...] // Phenylmercuric Acetate [...] thonium // Chloride 0.2%, Methylparab [...] dispers- // ible base. // DEODORANT · GERMICIDAL // NORWICH PHARMACAL COMPANY, LTD., PARIS, CANADA // 13-03-60 // LOT NO. 1020"; printed on side of box (some words obscured by water damage, but the French side of the box reveals what they are): "6 // NEW, IMPROVED // NORFORMS® // Norwich ® // FOR MEDICINAL // PURPOSES ONLY // INSTRUCTIONS INSIDE"; printed on suppository package (d): "NORFORMS"; printed on card (e):" NORFORMS".
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A2-7
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
Some water damage on outer box; printing in these spots has been washed away and is no longer readable, especially on the bottom of the box.
Copy Type
original
Reference Types
Websites, magazine
Reference Comments
History of Norwich Pharmacal Company - Part 1, Birth of an Industry - Norwich Pharmacal Company, by Dr. Reuben Jeffery - written in 1916; June 19, 2016, Local History Notes; Published in Norwich Percolate, January 15, 1935: http://smdlocalhistoryblog.blogspot.com/2016/06/history-of-norwich-pharmacal-company.html
History of Norwich Pharmacal Company - Part 1, Birth of an Industry - Norwich Pharmacal Company, by Dr. Reuben Jeffery - written in 1916; June 19, 2016, Local History Notes; Published in Norwich Percolate, January 15, 1935: http://smdlocalhistoryblog.blogspot.com/2016/06/history-of-norwich-pharmacal-company_20.html
Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Norforms Antiseptic Deodorant Suppositories, catalogue number 1986.0198.037: https://www.si.edu/object/nmah_738638
Government of Canada, Canadian Trademarks Database, NORFORMS — 0200962: http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/viewTrademark.html?id=200962&lang=eng
Wikipedia, Phenymercury acetate, last edited 23 December, 2018: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenylmercury_acetate
Research Facts
Norforms were intended to protect the vaginal tract from germs. They were used by manner of inserting the suppository into the vagina, where it would melt at body temperature. Advertisements claimed that the suppositories would not harm delicate tissues and that they were tested and proved in hospital clinics. They were also intended to eliminate odours. Today, the ingredients may be considered dangerous because of the presence of phenylmercuric acetate, which contains mercury.
The Norwich Pharmacal Company was founded in Norwich, N.Y. by Rev. Mr. Lafayette Moore in 1885, and began from a small basket of pills and the equipment to make them. This company was the first to use the word "pharmacal", not technically an English word at the time, but one which grew popular because of their use of it.