Vintage Medicinal Aide
Ever wonder what you might find in an early 20th century medicine cabinet? Join Tiny Tuesday as we showcase vintage medicinal aides during these next few weeks!
We begin our journey with a bottle of Coca Cola syrup, with its original contents still intact. The bottle dates to the 1940s and was sold by Touhey’s Pharmacy, which was in Fall River for nearly 100 years.
Coca Cola syrup can be used to soothe upset stomachs and would have been a commonplace remedy during the first half of the 20th century. It was first concocted by pharmacist John Stith Pemberton, of Georgia, in 1886 and was originally a “patent medicine”, marketed as a cure-all for various ailments. Many of these medicines were manufactured by people with limited medical knowledge, and could include harmful ingredients such as arsenic, mercury, and cocaine. Some of these early medicines were nothing more than snake oil.
Coca Cola syrup would eventually be used by pharmacies as a refreshing drink additive and marketed as a nonalcoholic drink during the Temperance movement, introducing the world to the ever-popular Coca Cola we know today. However, should you find yourself with an upset stomach, you can still purchase Cola syrup as a medicinal aide today.
We wouldn’t suggest taking a spoonful from this bottle!