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2003/116/1 Medicine bottle and contents, 'Friar's Balsam', glass / paper / cork / tincture of benzoin gum, VT McCabe Dispensing Chemist, Junee, New South Wales, Australia, [1960-1980]. Click to enlarge.
  • Image 1 of 1, 2003/116/1 Medicine bottle and contents, 'Friar's Balsam', glass / paper / cork / tincture of benzoin gum, VT McCabe Dispensing Chemist, Junee, New South Wales, Australia, [1960-1980]. Click to enlarge

Friar's Balsam medicine bottle

The principal ingredient of Friar's Balsam is resin from the benzoin tree. This plant grows in China and South-east Asian countries, and the strong but pleasant-smelling liquid benzoin is used in incense and traditional remedies in those countries.

In European societies, herbalists prescribe benzoin as an inhalant to help with respiratory disorders, and as a medication for treating urinary infections, relieving skin conditions and gout, and stimulating circulation.

Friar's Balsam, which is a …

Summary

Object No.

2003/116/1

Object Statement

Medicine bottle and contents, 'Friar's Balsam', glass / paper / cork / tincture of benzoin gum, VT McCabe Dispensing Chemist, Junee, New South Wales, Australia, [1960-1980]

Physical Description

Medicine bottle and contents, 'Friar's Balsam', glass / paper / cork / tincture of benzoin gum, VT McCabe Dispensing Chemist, Junee, New South Wales, Australia, [1960-1980]

A small brown glass bottle with a cork stopper containing medicine known as 'Friar's Balsam'. The remaining medicine has solidified at the bottom of the bottle. A white paper label is adhered to the body of the bottle and reads, 'Friar's Balsam ... VT McCabe MPS Dispensing Chemist, Broadway, Junee'.

Friar's Balsam is an over-the-counter medication used for its antiseptic properties on small injuries such as cuts and abrasions, and for its expectorant properties for coughs, congestion and asthma. It is a tincture (alcoholic solution) whose principal ingredient is the gum from the benzoin tree (styrax benzoin).

Marks

Text inscribed on label adhered to body of bottle, printed in blue "FRIAR'S BALSAM / NETT - FL. OZs / BROADWAY .. JUNEE / PHONE:: JUNEE 11".
Inscription moulded into glass on body of bottle "NOT TO BE TAKEN".
Inscription moulded into glass on underside of base "(unknown mark) / 1 8 849/3".

Short URL

https://ma.as/11881

Dimensions

Height

76 mm

Source

Credit Line

Purchased 2003

Acquisition Date

21 July 2003

Cite this Object

Harvard

Friar's Balsam medicine bottle 2022, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 27 March 2023, <https://ma.as/11881>

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/11881 |title=Friar's Balsam medicine bottle |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=27 March 2023 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}

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