Blake rectangular light aqua glass bottle with long cylindrical neck and a tooled, flanged lip with a flat top and squared edges; there is a ring low on the neck, near the base; a printed paper label attached to the front panel which lists product information; the bottle inside contains medication …
Blake rectangular light aqua glass bottle with long cylindrical neck and a tooled, flanged lip with a flat top and squared edges; there is a ring low on the neck, near the base; a printed paper label attached to the front panel which lists product information; the bottle inside contains medication remains and is sealed with a cork in the neck; all four panels are recessed; the two side panels are flat and undecorated; the back panel has embossed lettering on it.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Purchased by Dr. M. Chiong for his patent medicine collection, from Scott Jordan (Ottawa) in Sept. 1993.
Back embossed, "NERVILINE // PREPARED BY // THE CATARRHOZONE CO. // KINGSTON ONT."; front label [listed]"; doses listed; information listed in English and French
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A4-8 Box 3 Row A
Dimension Notes
Length: 13.2 cm. x Width: 5.1 cm. x Depth: 2.2 cm.
Condition Remarks
The bottle has no chips, cracks or wear; the inside has medication remains, but the outside is clean; the paper label has minor wear and some water staining; the printing is legible; the cork is broken at the top
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. 27; there are three binders of information on the Polson Co. (Catarrhozone Co.) with Dr. Chiong's written records; a photograph (b & w) 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.
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
To display in Museum: Potions, Pills and Prescriptions; May 1, 2000 - 28 Jan 2017.