Historical information

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.

Significance

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.

Physical description

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.

Inscriptions & markings

‘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.’