Antique Medicine Bottles Dr Cannon's Medicine Chest

ANOTHER "PATENT MEDICINE ARTICLE" FROM THE PAGES OF

ANTIQUE BOTTLE AND GLASS COLLECTOR MAGAZINE

THE MAGAZINE OF THE ANTIQUE BOTTLE COLLECTING HOBBY

We like the unique, mold blown glass bottles that held 19th century medicines, but the old metal containers have a certain appeal also, particularly or when one was treated with some of the stuff during childhood.


Cuticura Ointment	Chamberlain's Eye & Skin Ointment	Cannon's Salve	Gray's Ointment

Naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to purchase my Dr.J. Cannon / Salve Co. Ltd. / Cannon Salve / Best Salve in the World / Petroskey, Mich. round, 2 1/2 by 1 inches, yellow with black letters. On the reverse is given this information: "To the Public. I have used this salve over 30 years in my private practice. For cuts, bruises, burns, scalds, erysipelas, inflammation boils, carbuncles, sprains, poisoned sores,

broken bones, diphtheria, eczema, caked or inflamed breasts, gun-shot wounds, inflammation of the eyes, ring-worms; rusty nail sores, cures at once; blood poison cannot exist. We recommend our salve for the above".

Sue Van Berlo of the Petrosky Public Library failed to turn up anything about Dr. James Cannon in old newspapers, but found information in the city directories from 1899 through 1911-12. In 1899, he was listed as a physician and surgeon with his office and residence at 219 Lake, phone 253. Mrs. Cannon (Lemira) and Miss Georgia I. Cannon also resided at 219 Lake St. James Cannon, physician, also appeared in 1903. The 1909-10 directory listed Cannon J. Salve Co., Ltd., W.H. Van Gorder, chairman, 219 E. Lake, and that Lemira, widow of James, and Georgia I. still lived at 219 E. Lake. The 1911-12 directory gives Lemira, widow of James, bds (boards?) at 219 E. Lake. Hence, Dr. Cannon died some time between 1903 and 1909, but the company continued for a while under Mr. Van Gorder. Either the home was very large or the operation was very small. Georgia must have been a daughter who finally caught her man.

Did you ever get a "risen"? I think the medical term is boil, but we called them "resins" in Texas in the 1930s. Mine usually came in the heat of summer on my sitting down place, and did they hurt! Mother would get out the Grays Ointment to draw out the pus. It was dark brown, messy, and smelled very bad, but that's all we had to use. My Gray's Improved Genuine / Ointment / Manufactured by W.F. Gray and Co. / Nashville, Tenn. is round, 1 1/2 by 3/4 inches, and gray with black letters. It contained Zinc Oxide, Aluminum Oxide, Creosote, Carbolic Acid, Oil of Turpentine, Menthol, Pine Tar, and Oil of Sassafras.

The Guide To The American Medical Association Historical Health Fraud And Alternative Medicine Collection, 1922, refers to Gray's Ointment as a general cure all, 1915-39. There was also Gray's Glycerin Tonic Compound and an earlier Dr. Gray's Catarrh Powder which contained cocaine.

My Dr. Hobbs / Sparagus / Trade Mark on a green asparagus / Kidney Pills / A Specific for all Kidney / and Blood Diseases / Price 50 cts. / Sterling Remedy Co. / Chicago, Montreal, New York // How are your Kidneys? // 50 Pills in Each Box, it is rectangular, measures 2 1/2 by 1 1/2 by 3/8 inches, and is ivory with black letter. On the back of the box is this: "Cure Bright's Disease, Diabetes, Bladder Troubles, Cystitis, Nephritis, Sleeplessness, Nervousness, and Congestion of the Kidneys. As Healthy Kidneys Make Pure Blood, they will also Cure Blood Troubles such as Gout, Rheumatism, Sallow Complexion, Anemia, Chlorosis, Nervous Headache, Dizziness, Hysteria, Neuralgia, etc.".

Hobb's Pills - Takepill were patented in Chicago in 1892 by Harris C. Wilkinson. He patented Sparagus Kidney and Liver Pills in 1894. The Sterling Remedy Co. of Chicago, I11. registered the cut of a Gladiator with foot on another for medicine in 1895. My item has to be later, but does have part of a Proprietary Medicine Tax Stamp remaining.

Other metal items I found include: Chamberlain's / Eye & Skin / Ointment / Chamberlain & Co., Des Moines, Iowa, round, 1 3/4 by 5/8 inches, red with black lettering, Dr. M.A. Simmons / Vegetable / Liver Medicine / Prepared only by C.F. Simmons Med. Co. / St. Louis, square, 2 1/8 by 1 5/8 inches, ivory with black letters, Cuticura Ointment / Potter Drug & Chemical Corp. / Malden, Mass., round, 2 by 5/8 inches, black with orange lettering, Ramon's / Tabs / 5 grains / Aspirin / 1 1/4 grain / Caffeine / Brown Mfg. Co. Distributors / LeRoy, N.Y., and Thompson's / Hemo / Double Malted / Malted Milk / With Beef and Iron, impressed on the lid of an aluminum round drinking container, 3 7/8 by 3 inches. This last one I've found nothing on. It looks 1930s to me. Eric McGuire in Bottled Products and the U.S. Patent Office, 19th Century Trade Mark and Label Registrations, 1991, gives eleven different Thompsons. My guess is the Wild Cherry Phosphate Thompson, Amund G., of Chicago.

Kids these days don't know how lucky they are not to have Gray's Ointment rubbed on their "risens"!

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Hobb's Sparagus Kidney Pills	Ramon's Tabs