University Health Network - Academy of Medicine Collection
Category
Pharmacy
Archival
Classification
Pharmacy, Respiratory
Pharmacy, Homeopathic
Archival, Advertisements
Accession Number
1980.18.177 a-c
Description
Unsealed rectangular cream cardboard box (a) containing full cylindrical transparent glass Munyon’s Catarrh Tablets bottle with grey metal screw cap (b) and rectangular brown paper advertisement sheet (c); box has product information printed on exterior sides and a rectangular red and cream paper s…
Unsealed rectangular cream cardboard box (a) containing full cylindrical transparent glass Munyon’s Catarrh Tablets bottle with grey metal screw cap (b) and rectangular brown paper advertisement sheet (c); box has product information printed on exterior sides and a rectangular red and cream paper stamp attached to one end; bottle full of cylindrical white tablets; bottle is small vial with shallow circular push up base, no mold lines, and continuous external thread on cylindrical finish; rectangular cream paper label attached to bottle has product information and directions in French only; cap has company information embossed on top and threads molded into sides; advertisement is one double sided sheet of paper with company information and descriptions of various Munyon products of front and testimonials on back printed in black ink in French only.
Number Of Parts
3
Part Names
a – bottle – Length 5.9 cm Diameter 1.7 cm
b – box – Length 6.7 cm Width 1.9 cm Depth 1.9 cm
c – advertisement – Length 30.3 cm Width 18.2 cm
Provenance
Acquired from the Academy of Medicine; source: Mr. Dean Charters.
Based on similar artifacts in collection and Munyon’s company start in 1890s
Material
paper: cream, brown
ink: black, red, blue, green
glass: clear
metal: grey
Inscriptions
Printed on side of box: "MUNYON'S // HOMEOPATHIC // HOME REMEDIES"; printed on side of box: "MUNYON'S // CATARRH TABLETS // PRICE, 25 CENTS."; from label: "When dissolved in water, it gives immediate relief, cleansing and soothing the inflamed mucous membranes. They remove all irritating discharges from the head and throat."; printed on bottle label: “TABLETTES POUR LE CATARRHE // MUNYON’S // HOMOEOPATHIC // HOME REMEDIES // Directions. – Dissolvez une tablette en 20 // cuillerées à thé d’eau chaude, et employez cette // solution au lavage du nez et de la gorge soir et // matin. Injectez dans les narines au moyen du // Vaporisateur Munyon, ou en l’humant.”; embossed on bottle cap: “MUNYON’S // HOMEOPATHIC // REMEDIES”; printed on letterhead on front of advertisement sheet: “MUNYON’S // HOMEOPATHIC // HOME REMEDIES // BUREAU CANADIEN : // CONFEDERATION LIFE BUILDING, TORONTO. // LISTE DE REMEDES.”
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A2-4 Row B (a-b)
Storage Room 2005
2005-2-2 Box 4 (c)
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
Minor fading to bottle label; major distortion all over advertisement from being folded and wrapped around bottle; small to large tears all over advertisement resulting in some small areas of loss that obscure text; major tear resulting in separation of large section on proper left side of advertisement with small areas of loss along torn edges; advertisement paper is brown and brittle; advertisement is currently fragile and distorted, but stable
Copy Type
Original
Reference Comments
“Munyon is ready…” The Quack Doctor, Caroline Rance, 2010. Accessed 21 July 2019.
Dr. Roger Henderson. “Catarrh: causes, symptoms and treatment tips.” netdoctor, Hearst UK, 2019. Accessed 21 July 2019.
Research Facts
James Monroe Munyon was a popular producer of patent medicine who began selling his products in the 1890s; Munyon produced a variety of medicines that claimed to cure many different ailments, but most of the medicines were made from sugar, alcohol, and even poisons like arsenic and strychnine.
Catarrh is a build-up of mucus or saliva in the airway cavities, most often the sinuses on the side of the nose, but also chest, ears, and throat; it is an immune system reaction to an infection or irritation and is a symptom of allergic reactions, nasal polyps, hay fever, and the common cold.
Exhibit History
Box (b) on travelling exhibit ‘Unmasking Influenza’ / Spanish Flu Ottawa L-2019-3 30 April 2019-31 Dec 2022.