(a) Rectangular, square clear glass bottle with long cylindrical neck and a screw-top lip with (b) a plastic lid; the bottle is sealed and contains liniment; the bottle's front and side panels are recessed; there are paper product information labels (in English and French) on bottle front and back;…
(a) Rectangular, square clear glass bottle with long cylindrical neck and a screw-top lip with (b) a plastic lid; the bottle is sealed and contains liniment; the bottle's front and side panels are recessed; there are paper product information labels (in English and French) on bottle front and back; (c) one-piece cardboard box with flaps at the top and bottom to open and close it; product information is printed on all four sides of the box (in English and French).
Number Of Parts
3
Part Names
a - medicine bottle - Size: Length 16.5 cm. x Width 5.3 cm. x Depth 2.4 cm.
b - lid - Size: x Width 1.2 cm. x Diameter1.7 cm.
c - cardboard box - Size: Length 17.0 cm. x Width 5.6 cm. x Depth 2.7 cm.
Provenance
Purchased by Dr. M. Chiong for his patent medicine collection; purchased in Kingston in July 1995
Box front reads, "NERVILINE // A FAMILY LINIMENT // TRADE MARK // USED TO ASSIST IN // DISCOMFORTS ARISING FROM // NEURALGIA // TOOTHACHE // RHEUMATIC // PAINS, // COLDS, // SIMPLE SORE THROAT // LUMBAGO // SORE, ACHING JOINTS // MUSCULAR STRAINS // SPRAINS, // CHEST SORENESS // FROM COLDS // CHILBLAINS // HOARSENESS // INSECT BITES // THE CATARRHOZONE CO., // ESTABLISHED 1877 // TORONTO // ONTARIO" (front); "NERVILINE // FOR INTERNAL USE // Nerviline may be employed for Gas in the Stomach, common // colds, cramps, Flatulence // Dose: 30 drops in sweetened water; if not relieved in 20 // minutes, repeat the dose once"; in English & French
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A1-2 Row C
Condition Remarks
(a) Bottle is sealed and undamaged; (b) the plastic cap has a crack and should be watched to make sure no leakage will take place; (c) box is missing the top flap and shows several stains; all writing is legible
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Document
Reference Comments
"Bottles" by Michael Polak, p. 19; there are three binders of information on the Polson Co.
(Catarrhozone Co.) with Dr. Chiong's written records
Research Facts
Made after the business was sold to the Comstock family; used to treat neuralgia, toothache, rheumatic pains, sore throat, lumbago, sore aching joints, muscular strains, sprains, chest soreness from colds, chilblains, hoarseness and insect bites (for internal use).
After having studied at Queen’s University, Neil C. Polson established a drug business in Kingston in 1877. N.C. Polson & Co. became widely known across North America as a druggist and chemical manufacturer. One of their products, Catarrhozone, was widely advertised as an inhaled germ-killer and remedy for all respiratory ailments. The Vapor treatment was meant to be dropped onto a small piece of wool held inside the portable wood inhaler, then inhaled periodically through the mouth.
Their trade covered Canada, the U.S. and the West Indies.
The firm was established by Neil Polson Sr. in 1877, owned a wholesale drug and manufacturing chemist house in Kingston, Ontario. and was taken over by his two sons, Neil Jr. and Henry. They made medicines under the name of Polson Co., the Catarrhozone and Nerviline. Polson went on to become mayor of Kingston in 1893.
Exhibit History
On exhibit 100TH Anniversary of Public Health Canada, Ottawa L-2019-7 27 Nov – 2 Dec 2019
To display in Museum: Potions, Pills and Prescriptions; May 1, 2000 - 28 Jan 2017.