Summary

This Holloway's Ointment pot was excavated at the Commonwealth Block site between 1988 and 2003. Holloway's Ointment contained opium.

Health and hygiene.
'Cleanliness is next to Godliness'. This is a difficult maxim to follow when 'there is not one bath in sixty', when sewerage gathers in cesspits and open drainage channels line the streets.But the residents of Little Lon did practice personal hygiene. Archaeologists have uncovered toothbrushes and toothpaste pots, scent bottles, soap dishes, combs and hairbrushes.
Clean teeth and neat hair did not guarantee good health however. Doctors were expensive, so ordinary people had to rely on medicines like Holloway's Ointment and Hall's Vegetable Pain Conqueror as well as Chinese herbal remedies. Children were dosed weekly with the laxative castor oil, to keep their bowels regular.

Physical Description

This is a small pot with straight walls which flare out to a curved rim. The glaze is neutral and the printing is a black under glaze transfer. The rim has a chip.

Physical Description

Small pot, straight walls flare out to curved rim. Transfer print-black product label lettering Height 41mm, base (dia) 41mm. Ointment jar.

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Little Lon Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Historical Archaeology

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from Heritage Victoria, Industry Superannuation Property Trust, 03 May 2005

  • Manufacture Name

    Professor Holloway

  • Manufactured For

    Holloways, London, England, Great Britain, circa 1880

  • Inscriptions

    Inscription: HOLLOWAY'S/ FAMILY OINTMENT/FOR THE CURE OF/ SCROFULOUS & INDOLENT TUMOURS/ INVETERATE ULCERS/ Ulcerated Sore Legs Burns Scalds Ringworm sore [hands]/AND ALL [.]UTANEOUS DISEASES/ GOUT AND RHEUMATISM.

  • Context Number

    27/22

  • Site

    [TCS] Australia, Victoria, Commonwealth Block, Melbourne

  • Distinguishing Marks

    HOLLOWAYS/ FAMILY OINTMENT/ FOR THE CURE OF/... TUMOUR/ INVETERATE ULCERS/... BURNS AND COLDS RINGWORMS S.H.../ALL CUTANEOUS DISEASES./ GOUT AND RHEUMATISM on rev:SOLD / InFets 1s 1 1/2d 29-46-11-22 & 33 Ed /BY THE PROPETIER /244 STRAND (continues)

  • Activity

    Pharmaceutical

  • Specific Activity

    Jar - Ointment

  • Decoration

    Transfer-printed

  • Colour

    Black

  • Placement

    Convex

  • Form

    Shallow Concave; One-part; Rounded; Cylindrical

  • Shape

    Round

  • Provenance

    London

  • Classification

    Historical archaeology

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Archaeology - Historical

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Exhibition Collection Management

    49 mm (Length), 49 mm (Width), 39 mm (Height)

  • Dimensions

    4 cm (Height), 5 cm (Outside Diameter)
    Measurement From Conservation. Measuring Method: max.

  • Keywords

    Making History - Little Lonsdale Street