Name/Title
Medicine bottleEntry/Object ID
SS.61.44Description
Bottle, medicine: light bluish-green ("Aquamarine") mold-blown glass; wide sloping collared lip; long cylindrical neck; long, almost horizontal shoulder; octagonal body, with mold-inscription, in vertical lines on consecutive panels; 'DR. WISTAR'S/BALSAM OF/WILD CHERRY/PHILADA/"; hollow base, without pontil scar, and bearing molded: "4"; paper label, printed in black ink: "Dr. Wistar's/ Balsam of Wild Cherry,/Consumption of the Lungs,/ Coughs. Colds, Asthma, Bronchitis, Whooping/Cough, Croup, Influenza, Hoarseness,/ Pains or Soreness in the Chest, etc." Directions called for two teaspoons three or four times per day, or more. Bottle came packaged with (according to label) pamphlet, and wrapper, and purchasers were warned: "To guard against counterfeits, observe the fac-simile of the signature of I. BUTTS, on the outer wrapper; and on the label inside the following: H.WISTAR, MD" (poss. J.C. Wistar, MD)
On obverse, hidden by label, mold-inscribed: "I.B."Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
UnknownAttribution
MakerDate made
circa 1850 - 1860Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InscriptionTranscription
See descriptionDimensions
Dimension Description
OverallHeight
5 inWidth
1-7/8 inDimension Notes
Display Dimensions: 5 x 1 7/8 in. (12.7 x 4.8 cm)Relationships
Related Entries
Notes
SS.61.45 - Medicine bottle - Part of set
SS.61.43 - Medicine bottle - Part of setGeneral Notes
Note Type
Curatorial RemarksNote
Miscellaneous: It is tempting to speculate whether "Dr. Wistar" was a descendent of the famous Wistar glass-making family of Philadelphia and New Jersey. The Wistars produced much fine glass from 1740-1780, when the glass-house failed, and trained many glass-workers who later found work elsewhere.Note Type
StorageNoteNote
Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Sunnyside, Ebenezer Irving's Bedroom
