Rare Antique 12-oz. Clear Bottle Citro-Nesia Citrate of Magnesia Physic Chicago

Description

In 1918, the A.D. Holland Co. of Chicago began making and bottling Citro-Nesia. In those days, dyspepsia and other digestive ailments were rampant, perhaps because of the increasing use of processed rather than natural foods. What physicians prescribed were purgatives, some cathartic to move and cleanse the bowels. Dissolved citrate of magnesia worked well, but tasted chalky and had to be dispensed with a spoon. Citro-Nesia had the magnesia salts dissolved into carbonated water, like soda, and mixed lemon flavoring to improve the taste. One 12-ounce bottle was the exact dose and could be consumed without much fuss or muss in those hurried times. The stuff must have worked because A.D. Holland lingered into the mid-twentieth century and its trademarks expired in 1986. In its day, pop into a nearby drug store and for 15 cents your troubles were eliminated . . . really. A similar preparation is still sold today, said to even help dissolve kidney stones.
The company got into trouble with the Food and Drug Administration in 1931 for watering down the citrate of magnesia below its own standards. Times were tight during the Depression, even for the patent medicine business.
A.D. Holland trademarked the name "
Citro-Nesia" in 1922. While the company name is on the bottom of the bottle, it's not on the side where everyone could see it, so we're guessing this bottle was made between 1918 and 1922. That makes it very rare, probably one of the oldest bottles of citrate of magnesia around. The front reads "Citrate of Magnesia" over an old apothecary cup and "U.S.P. Pasturized." The back reads "Dose: half to one bottle as desired children less in Proportion to age. Bottle not returnable."
The bottle is 7.875 x 2.75 inches (20 x 7 cm). It is partially clouded but you can still see through it in good light. It is heavy with embossed lettering. A fantastic addition to an antique or vintage pharmacy or medical collection. Put this on a shelf in your old-fashioned drug store. Or use it as flower or pen/pencil holder. Shipped free and insured in US. Check out our other advertising collectibles at www.ebay.com/str/agitpropshoppe
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