Medicine Bottles

From the late 1700's through the 20th century, manufacturers used distinctive bottles to package a variety of 'medicines.' These elixirs, liniments, amazing cures, serums, syrups, pills, doctor's discoveries, extracts, balms, and 'marvelous mixtures of the Orient,' could purportedly cure everything from muscle aches to delirium. Most of the bottles are pontiled, and while some are embossed with the name of the product, many were simply identified by labels touting "Dr. So and So's Liniment." Thousands of doctors and brands distributed medicine bottles, so the collecting possibilities are nearly endless. Collectors look for originality and condition of the labels, as well as interesting ingredients (cocaine, opium, and chloroform were quite popular).