Gift of Daniel Piotrowski in memory of Horace W. Sellers III, 2016.100.82-.83 © 2016 The Connec…

Pill Boxes

Original OwnerOriginally owned by Dr. Cyrus Pendleton American, 1830 - 1919

Mediumwood; paper

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions ((.82) height x diameter): 7/8 × 1 7/16in. (2.2 × 3.7cm)
Primary Dimensions ((.83) height x diameter): 2 1/4 × 1 1/2in. (5.7 × 3.8cm)

ClassificationsEquipment

Credit LineGift of Daniel Piotrowski in memory of Horace W. Sellers III

DescriptionWooden pill boxes that originally belonged to Dr. Cyrus Pendleton of Hebron, Conn. (.82) is a single, circular box with labels on the box top, bottom, and sides. There are no contents, but would have once held Dr. Jacobs' Nerve Harmonizing, Blood Purifying, and Invigorating Vegetable Pills. (.83) is the same container as (.82). (.83) still contains the pills and there are two boxes contained within a paper label. It is likely that the pills were sold in sets of three to five.

(.82a) box top
(.82b) box bottom
(.83) pill box

Object number2016.100.82-.83

Inscribed(.82-.83) Typed in black ink on paper on box top: "Dr. Jacobs'/ NERVE/ HARMONIZING/ BLOOD PURIFYING AND/ INVIGORATING/ VEGETABLE/ PILLS./ Prepared only by the inventor, Dr. Z. L. Jacobs, at his Medical Laboratory, Hebron, Ct."

(.82-.83) Typed in black ink on paper on box bottom: "The fac-/simile signature/ of Z. L. Jacobs, thus,/ [signature] Z. L. Jacobs/ is always on each box/ of the genuine/ pills./ Price 25 Cts., 5 boxes $1. Sent by mail post paid to any part of U.S. on receipt of price."

(.82-.83) Typed in black ink on paper on box side: "These Pills are MILD, and SAFE, yet Surpassingly Efficacious in Fevers, Colds, Bilious, Liver and Kidney/ Complaints, Fever and Ague, Jaundice, Indigestion, Dyspepsia, Loss of Appetite, Faintness, Dizziness, Sick/ or Sour Stomach, Headache, Heartburn, Bad Breath, Colic, Costiveness, [illegible]/ Rheumatism, Gout, Neuralgia, Nervousness, Low Spirits, General Debility, Female Complaints, &c., &c.,/ DIRECTIONS. In acute attacks of fevers, colds, &c., use a thorough cathartic dose, from 3 to 6 pills for an/ adult, children, according to age, and repeat every day or two if necessary. In chronic cases use a cathartic/ dose when required, and from 1 to 2 pills daily, to harmonize, purifym and strengthen. Need not alter diet."

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