(a) Rectangular square clear glass bottle with long cylindrical neck and a tooled, squared, rolled-over collar; the bottle contains cod liver oil which is sealed in the bottle with a cork; the bottle front and sides are covered with an attached printed paper label which lists product information; (…
(a) Rectangular square clear glass bottle with long cylindrical neck and a tooled, squared, rolled-over collar; the bottle contains cod liver oil which is sealed in the bottle with a cork; the bottle front and sides are covered with an attached printed paper label which lists product information; (b) on-piece cardboard box (no top or bottom) with a single sheet of printed paper wrapped around it; paper lists product information.
Number Of Parts
2
Part Names
a - medicine bottle - Size: Length 20.5 cm. x Width 8.0 cm. x Depth 5.2 cm.
b - cardboard box - Size: Length 21.1 cm. x Width 8.4 cm. x Depth 5.5 cm.
Provenance
Purchased by Dr. M. Chiong for his patent medicine collection.
Box reads, "POLSON'S // Tasteless // Preparation // Made With the Extract of // Cod Liver // Oil // PLEASANT AND PALATABLE"; ingredients listed; dose for adults and children listed; "N. C. Rolson & Co. Limited // Manufacturing Chemists // Established 1877 // 311 Notre Dame St. West // Montreal Canada" (front); back lists same information in French; when and how to use the product listed on one side in English and the other in French; bottle label lists the same information
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A2-2 Row E
Condition Remarks
Bottle was dirty and dusty; the cork has dried medication around the outside top, but does not leak; the paper label is complete, but has suffered water damage, wear and small missing sections can be seen at the side; all writing is legible; (b) cardboard box hs suffered water water damage; there is no longer a top or bottom; the paper wrapper is brittle and missing sections at the top; water staining is visible; writing is visible
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Document
Reference Comments
There are three binders of information on the Polson Company with Dr. Chiong's written records
Research Facts
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. Polson went on to become mayor of Kingston in 1893.
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.