Rockwood / Kingston Psychiatric Hospital / Providence Continuing Care Centre Collection
Category
Pharmacy and Drug Artifacts
Classification
Pharmacy, General
Pharmacy, Other
Antiseptic
Accession Number
000003017 a-b
Description
Amber glass dropping bottle, containing Friars Balsam; the bottle (a) consists of a four-sided square bottle with flat sides and bottom and flattened corners; the shoulders of the bottle are rounded and curve inwards; the neck is cylindrical with threading on the outer edges and a round oopen top; …
Amber glass dropping bottle, containing Friars Balsam; the bottle (a) consists of a four-sided square bottle with flat sides and bottom and flattened corners; the shoulders of the bottle are rounded and curve inwards; the neck is cylindrical with threading on the outer edges and a round oopen top; a lid (b) fits over and onto the top of the bottle; the lid is closed and round with straight sides that have threading on their inner edges; the inside centre of the lid has an attached solid glass rod that has a bulbous end; the bottle contains a small amount of Friars Balsam; the outside front of the bottle has an attached typed paper label.
Number Of Parts
2
Part Names
a - bottle
b - lid
Provenance
Used at the Kingston Psychiatric Hospital
Material
glass: amber; clear
plastic: black
paper: off-white
Inscriptions
The label on the front of the bottle reads, "KINGSTON PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL // HEALTH UNIT. // (FRIARS BALSAM) // TR. BENZOIN CO. // 546-1101"
Permanent Location
Storage 0010
0010-A5-4 Box 2 Row D
Length
a - 9.8 cm
Width
a - 3.5 cm
Depth
a - 3.5 cm
b - 9.5 cm
Diameter
b - 1.3 cm
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
The glass is complete, with no chips or cracks; the bakelite is also complete and undamaged; the paper is complete and undamaged and fully legible.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Comments
Wikipedia
Research Facts
Friar's Balsam is an antiseptic and stimulating expectorant. Action & Uses: Can be used as an antiseptic and protectant to minor cuts and abrasions, chapped skin and lips, cracked nipples, small fissures of skin and anus, bedsores, indolent ulcers, herpes simplex, and gingivitis.
Tincture of benzoin is a pungent solution of benzoin resin in ethanol. A similar preparation called Friar's Balsam or Compound Benzoin Tincture contains, in addition, Cape aloes or Barbados aloes and storax resin. Friar's balsam was invented by Joshua Ward around 1760.