University Health Network - Academy of Medicine Collection
Category
Pharmacy and Drug Artifacts
Classification
Pharmacy, Gastrointestinal
Accession Number
1977.8.22 a-c
Description
A narrow, tubular glass bottle has a metal screw-on cap and a paper label wrapped around it; it contains alka-seltzer tablets; it comes in a long, narrow, cardboard box.
A narrow, tubular glass bottle has a metal screw-on cap and a paper label wrapped around it; it contains alka-seltzer tablets; it comes in a long, narrow, cardboard box.
Number Of Parts
3
Part Names
a - bottle - Size: Length 14.2 cm x Diam. 3.2 cm
b - box - Size: Length 15.2 cm x Width 3.8 cm x Depth 3.8 cm
c - cap - Size: Depth 1.1 cm x Diam. 3.7 cm
Provenance
Acquired from the Academy of Medicine; source: Dr. J.W. Scott.
Printed on label on bottle: "CONTENTS 25 TABLETS // Alka-Seltzer // BRAND // EFFERVESCENT ANALGESIC ALKALIZING TABLETS // ALKA-SELTZER MUST ALWAYS BE DISSOLVED IN WATER BEFORE TAKING // EACH DRY TABLET CONTAINS: 5 gr. acetylsalicylic acid and effervescent // base q.s // TABLET IN WATER BECOMES: An effervescent solution of sodium acetyl- // salicylate in alkaline buffers. // No. 15616 Proprietary or Patent Medicine Act // MILES LABORATORIES, LTD., TORONTO, CANADA // R595 P536 // [at an angle] 18 5106"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Reference Comments
Johnny Acton, Tania Adams, Matt Packer, "Origin of Everyday Things," 2006, pg. 12-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20180506233606/https://books.google.com/books?id=FY35-noly_IC&pg=PA13#v=onepage&q&f=false
Research Facts
Alka-Seltzer was first sold in 1931, having been developed by A. R. Beardsley during a flu epidemic in Elkhart, Indiana in 1928. Beardsley was curious why none of the people working at the local newspaper officer had become ill, and learned that their editor was giving them a mix of aspirin and bicarbonate soda to drink every day. Beardsley, president of Miles Laboratories Inc., had his head chemist Maurice Treener create alka-seltzer tablets based on this remedy, and in 1929 gave them to passengers on a Mediterranean cruise, who reported that they were successful in ameliorating seasickness. The tablets proved a great success and were heavily marketed.