Square amber glass bottle with cylindrical neck and a tooled, flanged lip with a flat top and rounded edges; the bottle has a printed paper label which covers the front and both sides; label lists product information; the bottle is full of about 20 Wonder kidney tablets and is sealed at the neck wi…
Square amber glass bottle with cylindrical neck and a tooled, flanged lip with a flat top and rounded edges; the bottle has a printed paper label which covers the front and both sides; label lists product information; the bottle is full of about 20 Wonder kidney tablets and is sealed at the neck with a cork.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Purchased by Dr. M.Chiong for his patent medicine collection, from Kim Snyder (Toronto) on July 9 1994.
Bottle bottom embossed, "1495"; label front reads, "Over 20 // DR. BELL'S // WONDER // KIDNEY // TABLETS // PRICE 25c // DR. BELL // WONDER // MEDICINE CO. // Kingston, Ont."; label side reads, "Each tablet represents: [listed] // Dose: [listed]"; other side of label reads, "For kidney affections such as [listed] // New Style container and label // adopted May 1926"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A4-6 Box 3 Row F
Dimension Notes
Length: 7.4 cm. x Width: 2.4 cm. x Depth: 2.4 cm.
Condition Remarks
Bottle is complete and has no chips, cracks or wear; the paper label has some minor wear at the edges, but all printing is legible; the cork is missing small sections, but still completely seals the bottle
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Document
Reference Comments
"Bottles" by Michael Polak, pp. 19 & 21; label from Dr. Chiong's exhibit, formerly at Bracken Library; a binder of information on Dr. Bell and his company is with Dr. Chiong's written records
Research Facts
Veterinarian Dr. George W. Bell (1858-1927), graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College 1880; practised veterinary medicine in the U.S. for 13 years. Returning to Kingston he established a veterinarian clinic on Brock Street, and continued to produce his patent medicines for use in farm livestock and pet animals under the business name of ‘Dr. Bell’s Wonder Medicine Company’. Dr. Bell made both veterinary and human remedies.
Dr. Bell’s Wonder Medicine was used as a sort of "cure all" but especially in the treatment of colic and inflammation and for cough and chills. The ingredients were aconite, belladonna, digitalis and nux vomica (strychnine).
He was principal (1895-1897) for the new Kingston Veterinary College at Queen’s University. By 1919 he was the milk inspector.
The operation of Dr. Bell’s Wonder Medicine Company was headed by his son. In 1936 when the United States Food and Drug Administration accused Dr. Bell’s Wonder Medicine Company of “misbranding.” Bottles were seized and analyzed under the Food and Drug Act. Labelled at 40 per cent alcohol, the tests concluded the mixture contained between 63 per cent and 65 per cent per bottle. Legal action ensued. In later years, the once-respected and prosperous company was labelled as quackery.
Exhibit History
To display in Museum: Potions, Pills and Prescriptions; May 1, 2000 - 28 Jan 2017.