This bottle was bought at a chemist either locally or in a large city on a shopping expedition. The embossing pattern indicates that the contents are poisonous. Bottles changed - shape, size, seal, use and embossingHistorical: Change in bottles - colour of glass, embossing, shape, size and use Aesthetic: Display showing embossing, shape, size, sealOpaque brown glass bottle with 6 sides. The front is wide, the 2 end sides and back side are short with the 2 adjoining longer sides coming out at 45 degrees. The sides at 45 degrees have heavy embossing of rows of crosses and the back side has heavily embossed print in capital letters read sideways from the top of the bottle to the bottom. The sides taper quickly to a short neck and then opening. The bottle has a brown screw top lid with embossed sides. The bottle is empty. A label has been sticky taped onto the front.Back: "Not to be Taken" Base: 'F 1158' and '856' along the edge Label: "Caution / Not to be Taken / Gentian Violet Solution / 2 % / For external Use - Onlyopaque brown glass bottle, chemist, poison, medicine, irregular hexagonal bottle

The changes in the metal observable on the interior of both these lead nipple shields suggests that this pair was well used. One can only imagine the long-term effects. Perhaps significantly, the lid of the box is stained with the distinctive purple of gentian violet. The underside of the lid claims “They are in no way likely to be injurious to the infant”. Allen & Hanbury’s catalogue of c1901 lists these as costing 1/- per pair.Two nipple shields, lead, moulded, 6cm diameter, with "England" impressed on inside. In original manufacturer's circular cardboard box.breast feeding