1880s-1910s Phospho Caffein Comp Medicine Bottle Arlington Chemical Yonkers NY

Description

This amber-brown, antique medicine bottle is embossed “Phospho Caffein Comp – Arlington Chemicals Co – Yonkers NY”.  The vintage  remedy likely dates between the late 1800s and early 1900s.  It has an unusual shape, flat on the front with the other three sides rounded.  The cork topped bottle (cork is missing) has a side seam ending at the neck (typical of pre 1907 mold formed bottles).  The top is also crookedly applied.  Arlington Chemical Company of Yonkers, New York, was operated in the late 1800s by the then Yonkers mayor, John Emory Andrus.  The company manufactured typical medicines of the time and distributed them internationally.  The Phospho bottle is in great shape, free of breaks or cracks with the exception of two small chips at the lip (see photo).  The bottle has nice clarity for its age, with age related bubbles and light mineral deposit.  It measures about 4.25” tall x 1.5” wide x 1.5 depth”.
In a 1909 article by the Arlington Chemical Company called “Notes on the composition, therapeutic indications & practical advantages of Phospho Caffein Comp”, the benefits of the elixir were extoled.  Phospho Caffein “combines the analgesic and sedative action of Antipyrin and Sodium Bromide in such a way that any unpleasant after effects are prevented by Caffein present and its therapeutic value increased by the presence of Phosphoric Acid…  A pleasant and refreshing draught…. Phospho Caffein Comp is (effective) in Headache, Neuralgia, Insomnia, Neurasthenia, etc, whenever sedative and analgesic action is required.  It does not disturb the stomach, acts promptly and does not seem to lose its effects when frequently used or to require increased dosage.  The usual unpleasant after effects of sedatives are entirely overcome”.
For More Information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Emory_Andrus
https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1298479