Historical information

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. : 'Carbolic Oil : Phenolated oil, an obsolete preparation of phenol in arachis acid formerly used as a local (skin) anaesthetic; the caustic phenol was replaced by glycerine'.
TROVE : The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Saturday 17 November 1877 p 11 Advertising
PATENT ZELTZOGENE CHARGES, D. FEVRE. In boxes of ten charges, price 6s. per box. Wholesale agents, Rocke, Tompsitt, and Co., 3 Flinders street east.
TROVE :
''Rocke Tompsitt Pharmaceutical wholesaler Rocke Tompsitt and Co Ltd has returned to the profit list after recording a $20,381 loss during 1976-77. However, annual dividend has been reduced from 3.5c last year to 2.5c. The group announced yesterday an after-tax profit of $312,000 after sales of $27.09 million, up 26.8 per cent. Directors said the improvement in the profit had come from the return to profitability by the Victorian wholesaling company, and the inclusion of the profit from the T. G. Cullum group for a full 12-month period. They said the company's other subsidiaries had continued to trade profitably. The group had continued to operate profitably despite excessive government price control over drugs in pharmaceutical-benefit scheme. However, the directors were optimistic that a satisfactory result would be achieved in the present year.

Physical description

Hexagonal clear amber glass bottle, 1/2 full of viscous liquid and cork stoppered. Three plain sides, a single side with embossed text, between two sides with stippled 'x' pattern. Letters and numerals embossed on base and paper label adhered to plain side.

Inscriptions & markings

Embossed text on side of bottle 'NOT TO BE TAKEN'. Embossed on base '4' over '4 OZ' over 'AGM'. Paper label with a section of the left side missing. White paper with dark blue text, overprinted with red text ('CARBOLIC OIL'), contained within a broken line border. 'THE CHALLENGE CARBOLIC OIL containing not more than ......per cent of Phenol. POISON for external use. Contents approx'tly 4 fld. oz. used as a dressing for................Burns, Wounds & .......... TOMPSITT & CO PTY LTD MELBOURNE'.