This bottle contains the medicine mixture for diseases of the liver and kidney that was patented by Dr Law of Boston. In the late 19th century Dr Law was a prolific and popular producer of patent medicines. The Warrnambool manufacturing chemist, Richard Kennedy, had the sole rights in Warrnambool to prepare and distribute Dr Law’s medicines. Richard Frank Kennedy (1826-1903) was born in England. He came to Warrnambool in the early 1880s and set up a pharmacy business in Timor Street. He was a retail, wholesale and manufacturing chemist. In 1891 he erected a new building and at that time his shop was described and one of the most elegant and best-stocked chemist’s shops in Victoria. Kennedy was active in Warrnambool community affairs and he was a foundation member of the Warrnambool Bowls Club, being its first Vice-President and an early President. His business continued after his death, trading as R.F.Kennedy and Co. This item is of considerable significance as it is the only example we have of a Dr Law patent medicine produced and distributed by the Warrnambool manufacturing chemist, Richard Kennedy. Both Dr Law and Richard Kennedy used an image of a lighthouse as a business symbol though the images are not identical. This is a glass bottle with a cork containing a chemist’s mixture for diseases of the kidney and liver. The bottle is enclosed in a brown paper cover which is lined with what looks to be the instructions for the use of the medicine. (The bottle is unable to be removed from the covering without major damage to the cover). The covering is brown with images of Dr Law and his lighthouse logo and printed material in brown and white colouring with the name of the product and its benefits. The top of the covering is torn and mended with adhesive tape. ‘Great Blood Purifier’ ‘Dr Law’s Great Cure for Diseases of the Liver and Kidney and all Impurities of the Blood’ Dr Law’s Liver Stimulant and Invaluable Remedy for indigestion, dyspepsia, sick headaches, loss of appetite, spasms, jaundice, constipation, sour stomach, heartburn’ ‘Waterbrasch, Liver, Stomach and Kidneys’ ‘Manufactured at Kennedy’s Pharmaceutical Works, Warrnambool, W.D.’ r.f.kennedy,, warrnambool chemist, dr law of boston, patent medicine producer, chemists in warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This is a bottle that contained Dr Law’s medicine for diseases of the liver and kidney. In the late 1800s Richard Kennedy, the Warrnambool chemist, had the sole rights to produce Dr. Law’s medicines in his manufacturing business. Dr Law, from Boston, U.S.A., was a prolific and popular producer of patent medicines. This bottle may have been produced during the time of Richard Kennedy or later on the 20th century when the business of R.F.Kennedy and Co., was still operating or it may have come from any local chemist selling Dr Law’s products in the 20th century. The fact that the label on the bottle has an image of a lighthouse on it is a further link with Richard Kennedy who used a lighthouse image as his trademark (albeit a different image).Richard Kennedy came to Warrnambool in the late 19th century and established a retail, wholesale and manufacturing pharmaceutical business in Timor Street. This business was regarded as one of the largest and finest in Victoria. Richard Kennedy was prominent in community and civic affairs in Warrnambool. This bottle is of interest as a good example of the many patent medicines available in the 19th century. Dr Law’s remedies were sold world-wide. It is also of interest because of its possible link s with the prominent Warrnambool chemist, Richard kennedy. This is a glass bottle with a cork stopper that has been pushed into the neck. The glass was originally clear but it is now very black and stained from the dried liquid that was in the bottle. The label on the front of the bottle, pasted on, has black and white printing with an image of a lighthouse in the middle. The label on the back is pasted on and contains directions for use of the medicine. Both labels are very stained. ‘Dr Law’s Great Cure for Diseases of the Liver and Kidneys’dr law of boston, history of warrnambool, richard kennedy, chemists of warrnambool