(a) Rectangular clear glass bottle with long cylindrical neck and a tooled, flanged lip with a flat top and squared edges; all four panels are recessed; the two side panels have embossed lettering on them; the front and back panels have attached printed paper labels which list product information, …
(a) Rectangular clear glass bottle with long cylindrical neck and a tooled, flanged lip with a flat top and squared edges; all four panels are recessed; the two side panels have embossed lettering on them; the front and back panels have attached printed paper labels which list product information, a trade mark and a picture of a woman using the product; the bottle is full of Catarrhozone Ozonated Air Remedy and is sealed at the neck with a cork; (b) one piece printed cardboard box with flaps at the top and bottom to open and close it; box lists product information in English and French and was made to house (a).
Number Of Parts
2
Part Names
a - bottle - Size: Length 10.6 cm. x Width 3.2 cm. x Depth 1.6 cm.
b - box - Size: Length 12.3 cm. x Width 4.6 cm. x Depth 3.8 cm.
Provenance
Purchased by Dr. M. Chiong for his patent medicine collection, from Scott Jordan (Ottawa) in Sept. 1993.
(a) Left side embossed, "CATARRHOZONE"; right side panel embossed "MONTREAL"; front label reads, "CATARRHOZONE // VAPOR // TREATMENT // Directions on how to use the product follow."; back label reads, "CATARRHOZONE // TRADE MARK // OZONATED // AIR REMEDY // Directions on how to use the product [in English and French] follow // PROPRIETARY OR PATENT // MEDICINE ACT, NO. 4086 // PRICE 50c. // THE CATARRHOZONE CO. // MONTREAL, CANADA"; (b) box front reads, "CATARRHOZONE // OZONATED AIR // REMEDY // USED TO ASSIST // IN OVERCOMING // CATARRH // COLDS, COUGHS // BRONCHITIS // ASTHMA // HAY FEVER // DEAFNESS // LA GRIPPE // THROAT TROUBLE // PRICE 50c // PREPARED ONLY BY // THE CATARRHOZONE // COMPANY // MONTREAL - CANADA"; back has same information in French; the sides have directions for product use in English and French
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A5-6 Box 3 Row B
Condition Remarks
(a) Bottle shows no chips, cracks or wear; the paper labels show wear along the edges but are mostly legible; the cork is complete and undamaged; (b) the top flap has been torn off and the top back of the box is ripped; all printing is legible
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Document
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
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.