Item LL 68247 Bottle - Eucalyptus Oil, Glass, R. C. Bosisto, Australia, circa 1880

Summary

This green eucalyptus oil bottle was excavated at the Commonwealth Block site between 1988 and 2003. It was manufactured by R.C. Bosisto's. Bosisto's harvested eucalyptus oil from near Bendigo. Eucalyptus oil was used as a liniment.

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 light green moulded bottle with applied lip. It has a cylindrical neck, rounded shoulders and a triangular body.

Physical Description

Light green moulded bottle with applied lip. 130 x 54 mm. Writing: R.C. BOSISTO'S... EUCALYPTUS OIL... Eucalyptus oil was used as a liniment. Bosisto's harvested eucalyptus oil from near Bendigo.