The Earliest Western Blown Medicines

 Dr. Bowen’s Blood Purifier

The Dr. Bowen’s Blood Purifier is one of the three earliest western blown medicines and a product from one of the the first western glasshouses to blow embossed bottles for the western market.

 

Warren Friedrich, in his book, Early Glassworks of California quotes the Daily Scientific Press of September 5th, 1860: " As an evidence of the success of the Glass Works ( ie: The San Francisco Glass Works ), we mention some of the leading houses here who have ordered and are supplied by this factory exclusively. Turner Bro., Front street; Dr. Bowen; Adolphus &; Co; Jungerman; Sansevain Bro.; Kohler & Co; Frohling; Billings &; Co., Folsom street; Dr. Boyce, Sacramento street, and others, all of which express their entire satisfaction"

The Bowen’s Blood Purifier was composed of Sarsaparilla, Yellow Dock, Dandelion and Iodide of Potass and it was contended it eradicated all diseases from the body without leaving any unpleasant symptoms produced by other medicines that contained mercury and arsenic.
 

Dr. Bowen's advertisement from the Golden Era newspaper October 1860

 

 

The Dr. Bowen's Blood Purifier - the deep blue aqua color can be seen in this photo

 

 

Front and side panel of the Bowen's

 

 

Iron pontil on the base of the Dr. Bowen's

 

 

Embossing on the front panel of the Bowen's

 

Thanks to Dennis Eastley for the pictures of the Dr. Bowens and to Dale Mlasko and Warren Friedrich for the information on the three earliest western medicines

(Part One of Three)
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I had a question about the Dr. McDonald & Levy bottle:
Where was the pontiled Drs Mcdonald & Levy Sacramento city bottle blown???

For the story on the Dr McDonald bottle go here: http://www.westernbitters.com/2012/11/compound-fluid-extract-of-manzanita-drs.html