Early 20th Century Amber Glass Codeine Sulphate Poison Bottle

An incredible piece of pharmaceutical history, this amber glass bottle actually contained a solution of codeine sulphate.  Codeine was historically used to treat many ailments from pain relief to coughs.  Originally derived from the Opium Poppy codeine is still used today with a prescription.

It is very rare to find these antique poison bottles still wrapped with their original labels.  This particular bottle was sold by Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical company that was established in 1876 and is now one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the US.  On the back is a Guaranteed under the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 with a pharmaceutical label dated 1919.

By 1872 the American Medical Association recommended blue, green and amber glass for poison bottles as well as adding texture to identify them in the dark.  Bottles often had ridges, lattice patterns and vertical ribs embossed on the bottles.  This particular poison bottle has embossed Poison written on the back twice with ridges down the side allowing the user to know it's a poison bottle. This bottle still has it's original cork.