Roberta Greenwood was right on target with Absorbine products and the Fike
reference.  I also checked several sources and found that Absorbine is still
being manufactured by the fifth generation of the original manufacturers.
They have a website and you can click on "Our History".  They can be reached
at (800)628-9853 and the website is www.absorbinejr.com.  Among their claims
to fame is coining of the term "athlete's foot" in the 1930s.  (Athlete's
Foot was one of the conditions for which Absorbine Jr. was recommended.) Mr.
Young was fond of horses and began marketing a liniment for horses
(Absorbine) in 1892.  By 1903, a modified liniment (Absorbine, Jr.) was
marketed for human use, and has been in use ever since.  In the early
1900's, the American Medical Assoc. investigated numerous patent and
proprietary medicines and published reports on those they thought
unsatisfactory.  In 1913, they examined Absorbine, Jr. and reported an
approximate composition of: oil of wormwood, 1 dram; oil of sassafras, 16
minims; menthol, 15 grains; and acetone.  (Arthur Cramp, Nostrums and
Quackery, Vol. 2, 1921, pp. 462-463. )  Cramp criticized the health claims
of the product and questioned the legitimacy of Mr. Young, because he
carried the mysterious letters "P.D.F." after his name, as an honorary
title.  (Perhaps it had to do with Wilbur Fenelon Young's previous
background- 8 years as a piano salesman.)  Of interest in this context, the
Cramp reference shows three excellent pictures of Absorbine, Jr. bottles
complete with paper labels and crown-like glass stoppers.  In 1977, there
were at least 2 Absorbine products for human use: Absorbine Arthritic ( a
lotion containing methyl salicylate, menthol, and methyl nicotinate) and
Absorbine Jr. (a lotion containing wormwood oil, thymol, menthol, and
chloroxylenol).  [Ref. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs, 5th Ed., p. 293]
Absorbine Jr. is also listed in the Physician's Desk Reference for
Nonprescription Drugs, 1985, pp. 435 and 729.  At that time, the product was
available in a 12 ounce non-applicator bottle as well as smaller size
applicator bottles.The ingredients were the same as in 1977 and the company
was located at 111 Lyman St., Springfield, MA 01103.  This is probably more
than called for so I'll stop.

Allen Vegotsky
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----- Original Message -----
From: "LOCKHART BILL" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 4:49 PM
Subject: Bottle Dating Question


> A researcher asked me this quesiton, and I do not know, so I thought I
would check
> with the rest of you.
>
> -------------
>
> Hi Bill;
>
> We have a machine made druggist's bottle embossed "W.F. Young Inc.
> Springfield, Mass.  U.S.A." on one side that turned up in Canada.
>
> The base has an embossed diamond with an "I" in the middle (likely
> Illinois Glass Co. circa 1916 to 1929 per Toulouse). The bottle is made of
> clear glass, and has an Owen's scar on the base. The size is "12 ounces".
>
> I am hoping you have a contact in the Springfield Mass area that might be
> able to help us date the bottle more accurately and who might have some
> information on the company.
>
> Olive Jones, a retired Parks Canada employee, told me of your
> "[log in to unmask]" network some time ago so I thought I would ask you and
> your contacts for your assistance.
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Virginia Lockett