The collector bug has not just infected me. Our whole family has one thing or another that I look for when hitting estate sales. For my husband it is pharmacy antiques (he is a pharmacist). We have a great cabinet in our living room that has the original turquoise paint inside. When I bought it I knew it would be perfect to house my husbands collection.
A lot of the old pharmacy containers were gifts from pharmacy friends that knew he collected. I also always hit the bathrooms of estate sales to see if I can find old medical tins or prescription bottles. It is interesting to see all the labels on the old prescription bottles that were from the mom and pop operations. They are long gone and have been (for the most part) replaced by the big chains.
I also enjoy the old graphics on the boxes and tins.
The label on the Cod Liver Table bottle proclaims Chew one or two daily - Eat them like candy - Youngsters love them. I have never actually had a cod liver tablet, but I don't know if I would eat them like candy!
The cabinet also features other oddities like FIG flavored laxatives, mutton suet salve (excellent for use in tired aching muscles, back aches or lumbago), mustard plasters, Flu and Cold Dope and the classic Grove's Chill Tonic for Relief of Malaria.
The world of medications have certainly come a long way!
It's a wonder anyone survived the "cures" way back when! I love your husband's collection. Is he still adding to the collection? Does he have enough of the little bottles that contained medicine? I know I've got some stuff floating around in the attic. If and when I find it I will send you a picture, and he can decide if he wants any of it!
Posted by: Carol | March 25, 2009 at 12:38 PM
This is a fabulous collection, but I'm really glad I'm not in the market for fig-flavored Ex-Lax.
Posted by: barbara | March 25, 2009 at 06:13 PM