University Health Network - Academy of Medicine Collection
Category
Pharmacy
Pharmacy, General
Home Health
Classification
Pharmacy, Respiratory
Pharmacy
Pharmacy, General
Home Health
Accession Number
1980.18.82
Description
Short rectangualr clear glass bottle with cork closure with narrow cream paper strip adhered over cork to bottle shoulders; filled three quarters with dark fluid; one piece cream paper label on one side; embossed along sides to denote the product is poisonous.
Short rectangualr clear glass bottle with cork closure with narrow cream paper strip adhered over cork to bottle shoulders; filled three quarters with dark fluid; one piece cream paper label on one side; embossed along sides to denote the product is poisonous.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Acquired from the Academy of Medicine; source: Mr. Dean Charters.
Printed on main label: "Vapo- // Cresolene // No. 13692 // THE PROPRIETARY // OR PATENT // MEDICINE ACT // A VAPOR INHALANT // EASING THE PAROXYSMS // OF WHOOPING COUGH // AND SPASMODIC CROUP; // DIFFICULT BREATHING // IN BRONCHIAL ASTHMA; // COUGH IN BRONCHITIS; // NASAL CONGESTION IN // CATARRH AND HAY // FEVER; HEAD COLDS AND // COUGH DUE TO COLDS // To be vaporized only in // THE CRESOLENE VAPORIZER // VAPO-CRESOLENE CO. // 62 Cortland St. // NEW YORK, N.Y. // U.S.A. // PRINTED IN U.S.A."
Printed on side label: "CAUTION // NOT TO BE TAKEN INTERNALLY // POISON // ANTIDOTES // INTERNAL - GIVE MILK, // RAW EGG WHITE, MUCIL- // AGE, GRUEL OR CORN // STARCH PASTE; FOLLOW // WITH EMETIC (TABLE // SPOONFUL OF MUSTARD IN // A TUMBLER OF WATER). // CALL PHYSICIAN // EXTERNAL - BATHE WITH // ALCOHOL OR WHISKEY, // THEN USE OLIVE, COTTON- // SEED OR LINSEED OIL // INERT SUBSTANCE, WATER 1% // 1 TEASPOON OF CRES- // OLENE TO A PINT OF WATER // MAKES A RELIABLE LIQUID // GERMICIDE AND ANTISEPTIC // WASH // SEE DIRECTIONS ON // VAPORIZER BOX OR CIRCU- // LAR. // CONTENTS 2 OZS. // MADE IN U.S.A."
Embossed on side panels: "VAPOCRESOLENE CO. // PAT. BUS [illeg] JUL 17 94ENG JUL 2.3 94"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-B4-6
Length
10.9 cm
Width
3.4 cm
Depth
3.4 cm
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
12 Mar 2024: Hot glued around cork and at neck of bottle to reduce emissions, attached loose right side of paper label with acid free double sided adhesive tape; replaced illegible accession number
Paper covering cork is brittle, creased and folded
Copy Type
Original
Research Facts
Coal tar is one of the byproducts of industrial processes that convert coal into coke or gas. Coal tar and its derivatives have been used in ointments, shampoos, analgesic drugs, and disinfectants.
One of its forms, cresol, was marketed as "Vapo-Cresolene" beginning in 1879. They maintained offices in New York City, and at 1651 Notre Dame Street, Montreal, Canada and continued on until 1950.
The Cresolene was poured into the well on top. The flame from the kerosene lamp below would heat the Cresolene and vaporize it into the room. It was used to treat diseases of the respiratory system such as whooping cough, diphtheria and scarlet fever. It was also used to sanitize “sick rooms” and bedrooms.
In 1910, the vaporizer, including lamp and 2-ounce bottle of Cresolene, sold for $1.75. The Vapo-Cresolene Co. was still operating well into the 1950s.
These claims were debunked by a report of the American Medical Association in 1908. Despite this, the product and its vaporizers continued to be sold as late as the 1950s.
Exhibit History
On display: "Vaccines and Immunization: Epidemics, Prevention, and Canadian Innovation"; Museum of Health Care, Nov. 28, 2013.