Empty oval aqua glass bottle with long cylindrical neck and a tooled, flanged lip with a flat top and squared edges; the front panel of the bottle is flat and has embossed lettering; the sides and back are rounded outwards; there is a small printed paper label attached to the back which lists produ…
Empty oval aqua glass bottle with long cylindrical neck and a tooled, flanged lip with a flat top and squared edges; the front panel of the bottle is flat and has embossed lettering; the sides and back are rounded outwards; there is a small printed paper label attached to the back which lists product information.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Purchased by Dr. M. Chiong for his patent medicine collection, from Kim Snyder (Toronto) on July 9, 1994.
Bottle front embossed, "N. C. POLSON & CO. // DRUGGISTS // KINGSTON ONT."; small label on back reads, "G. S. HOBART, WHOLESALE DRUGGIST // PRINCESS STREET, KINGSTON, ONT."
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A3-9 Row B
Dimension Notes
Length: 17.1 cm. x Width: 6.5 cm. x Depth: 4.0 cm.
Condition Remarks
The bottle has no chips, cracks or wear; the paper label shows small missing sections at the top, but the printing is legible; the bottle shows only minor traces of residue inside and is clean outside
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Document
Photo
Reference Comments
"Bottles" by Michael Polak, pp. 19 & 21; "Canadian Bottle and Stoneware Collector" (magazine) issue No. 16, April/May/June 1996, p. 26; there are three binders of information on the Polson Company with Dr. Chiong's written records; a photograph (b & w) of this bottle has been taken;
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.
Polson was mayor of Kingston in 1893.
Exhibit History
To display in Museum: Potions, Pills and Prescriptions; May 1, 2000 - 28 Jan 2017.