Patent medicine bottle, “REED AND GARNICK,” dating from between 1850-1920.

Patent medicine bottles dating from between 1850-1920.

Patent medicine bottle dating from between 1858-1901.

Small cobalt blue bottle, possibly for Bromo-Seltzer, manufacture in Baltimore, MD.

Pharmaceutical bottle embossed with “WYETH & BRO PHILADA.”  Medicinal bottle from the John Wyeth & Brother company, founded in 1860; Wyeth is now a large pharmaceutical/healthcare research organization and markets over-the-counter medicine in over 100 countries around the world.  This bottle dates from between 1860-1920.

Patent medicine bottle embossed with the text, “DAVIS & MILLER/BALTIMORE/DRUGGISTS.  Davis & Miler were one of Baltimore’s most successful wholesale druggists.  Between the 1840s-1890s they had pharmacies at 3 North Howard Street and 12 Howard Street in Baltimore.

Pharmaceutical bottles embossed with the text, “UDOLPHO WOLFE’S//SCHIEDAM//AROMATIC SCHNAPPS.”  This beverage was bottled between 1848-1880 in New York and New Orleans and advertised as a medicinal gin tonic and invigorating cordial.  Schnapps is a German term that encompasses “all generic clear brandies distilled from fermented fruit.”

Patent medicine bottle embossed with the text, “OMEGA OIL.”  This was supposed to be an all-purpose miracle oil that was produced between 1870-1924.  An advertisement ran, “For Sun Burn, For Weak Backs, For Stiff Joints, For Athletes.  Trial Bottle 10.”

Patent medicine bottle embossed with the text, “DR. H.A. KENNEDY’S/U.S./PHARMACY/CAPE MAY N.J.”  Bottle dates from between 1858-1901.

Patent medicine bottle embossed with the text, “HOOD PILLS/DOSE TO/CURE LIVER ILLS.”  Produced by C.I. Hood & Co., Lowell, MA.  The bottle contained C.I. Hood Vegetable Pills, an all-natural cathartic and liver medicine that was also supposed to aid digestion, and cure heartburn, headaches, jaundice, nausea, and dizziness.  Produced between 1876-1923.  The company motto: “if it’s made by Hood it’s good.”

Patent medicine bottle embossed with the text, “HAMLIN’S WIZARD OIL,” which was produced by Hamlin’s Wizard Oil Company.  The company was founded in the 1870s by John Hamlin, a former traveling magician, and his brother, Lysander.  They called this pharmaceutical “The Great Medical Wonder,” and advertisements promised, “There is no Sore it will not Heal, No Pain it will not Subdue.”  It was supposed to treat rheumatism, sprains, bruises, lame backs, frost bite, diarrhea, burns, scalds, pneumonia, cancer, headaches, earaches, and hydrophobia.  It was marketed by a migrating show, combining magic, musical performances, medical lectures, and hawking of the cure for 35-75 cents a bottle.