Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2023.1.1 |
Object Name |
Bottle, Medicine |
Description |
Brown's Shaker Fluid Extract of English Valerian bottle. Aqua glass. Each narrow side is embossed in a rectangular recess, one side reads "Shaker Fluid" and the opposite "Extract Valerian" The letters and recess are crisp and defined. There is no noticeable seam across the bottom, seams run up opposite edges, over the shoulder, up the neck and fade shortly before the rim. There are vents on the shoulders without the seams. The applied finish is thick and well formed. The cork is present and there is remains of paper that was glued across the top. There are labels on each of the wider sides. One is the standard Brown's Extract label, in this case stamped with S. Brown's signature. The other reads: "Brown's Shaker Fluid / Extract of English Valerian / Contains 50 per cent alcohol / Guaranteed by the United Society of Shakers un- / der the Food and Drugs Act, June 30, 1906. No 4620 / Manufacturers and Proprietors / Cummings & Spooner, Trustees, Enfield, N.H." |
Credit line |
Gift of Carolyn A. Smith and Richard C. Dabrowski |
Date |
ca 1906 - 1923 |
Dimensions |
H-3.5 W-1.25 D-0.001 Dia-0.125 inches |
Material |
Glass/Paper/Ink |
Place made |
Enfield, NH Shaker Village, Church Family |
Lexicon category |
5: T&E For Science & Technology |
Lexicon sub-category |
Medical & Psychological T&E |
Interpretive information |
Enfield Second Family physician Samuel Brown developed and sold Brown's Extract of English Valerian. Bottles made during his lifetime had his signature in ink on the label. After his death in 1850 his signature was printed on the bottle, as in this example. In 1894 the Second (South) Family was closed and the members moved to the Church Family. The production of this medicine continued at the Church Family with the same label, name and marketing. The US Food and Drugs Act of 1906 required alcohol content to be declared on the label, resulting in the additon of the back label seen on this bottle. In 1902, Rosetta Cummings was named Chruch Family First Trustee after the death of Caroline Whitcher and Henrietta Spooner was named assistant Trustee. They worked together for the next 16 years managing the business affairs of the Society. |
Linked documents |
Watch a video about the bottles of the Enfield medicial industry on the museum's Youtube channel. |