Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines

Botanic Druggist, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York

27 November 2015 (R•113015) (R•072319-GWA Example)

Working in my “A’s” today trying to see if any unlisted bitters are parked in my “to do” folders. Here is a neat medical catalog that lists four Atkinson Bitters, two listed and two not. Thought it might be a good idea to sort this out for Bill Ham who is working on Bitters Bottles Supplement 2.

The products are from Dr. Asher Atkinson, who was a Botanic Druggist located at No. 230 Greenwich St between Barclay and Robinson Streets in New York. The piece is dated 1858.

Dr. Asher Atkinson was born in 1796 in Kingwood, Hunterdon, New Jersey. He died on July 11, 1865 in Claremount, New Jersey. One obituary said you get to the funeral: “The dummy railroad cars pass near the house, and leave the ferry every hour. The plank-road horse cars go within half a mile of the house.”

Medical Catalog Cover: Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York

Medical Catalog Cover: Note reference to the following bitters:

Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York, Catalogue of Medicines, Atkinson’s Anti Dyspeptic Bitters, Price $1.00 per bottle. Not listed.

Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York, Catalogue of Medicines, Atkinson’s Anti Dropsical Bitters, Price $1.00 per bottle. Not listed.

Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York, Catalogue of Medicines, Medicines intended particularly for Diseases Incident to Females, Atkinson’s Emmenagogue Bitters, Price $1.00 per bottle. Bitters Bottles Supplement, A 106.2

Medical Catalog Page 2: Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York

Medical Catalog Page 3: Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York

Medical Catalog Page 4: Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York

Medical Catalog Page 4: Note reference to the following bitters:

Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York, Catalogue of Medicines, Atkinson’s Anti Dyspeptic Bitters, Price $1.00 per bottle. A Remedy for Every Form of Dyspepsia or Indigestion Not listed.

Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York, Catalogue of Medicines, Atkinson’s Anti-Dropsical Bitters, Price $1.00 per bottle. A wonderful medicine in all dropsical cases and some Rheumatism. Not listed.

Medical Catalog Page 5: Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York

Medical Catalog Page 6: Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York

Medical Catalog Page 7: Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York

Medical Catalog Page 8: Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York

Medical Catalog Page 8: Note reference to the following bitters:

Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York, Catalogue of Medicines, Medicines intended particularly for Diseases Incident to Females, Atkinson’s Emmenagogue Bitters, Price $1.00 per bottle. Bitters Bottles Supplement, A 106.2

Atkinson’s Chirayta Bitters (Page 1): Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York

Atkinson’s Chirayta Bitters (Page 1): Note reference to the following bitters:

Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York, Catalogue of Medicines, Atkinson’s Chirayta Bitters or Herb0-Tonic Elixir, Bitters Bottles Supplement, A 106.1

Atkinson’s Chirayta Bitters (Page 2): Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York

Atkinson’s Chirayta Bitters (Page 3): Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York

Atkinson’s Chirayta Bitters (Page 4): Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York

A.D. ATKINSON – CHIRAYTA BITTERS / OR / NERVO TONIC ELIXIR – NEW YORK”, (Ring/Ham, A-106.1), (Odell, pg. 9), New York, ca. 1840 – 1860, aqua, 8 7/8”h, open pontil has a minor in-making chip, applied mouth. Perfect condition, good glass whittle. Extremely rare having only one auction listing. Ex. Dr. Greer Collection. Sidney Genius Collection. Chirayta or Chirayata, (the correct spelling), is an herb found mostly in the higher elevations of India. Like many other herbal remedies of that time it was supposed to cure various ailments. Many American proprietors took advantage of this using these claims to promote their ‘medicines’. This is one of a number of early pontiled medicine bottles with an ‘herb’ embossing. For the collectors of this type bottle, or for those who think they would like to be, this would a good start! – Glass Works Auctions | Auction #132

The new listing by Bill Ham for the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

A 106.13 Atkinson’s Anti Dropsical Bitters, Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York, Catalogue of Medicines, Price $1.00 per bottle.

A 106.16 Atkinson’s Anti Dyspeptic Bitters, Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York, Catalogue of Medicines,, Price $1.00 per bottle

A 106.2 Atkinson’s Emmenagogue Bitters, Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York, Catalogue of Medicines, Medicines intended particularly for Diseases Incident to Females, Price $1.00 per bottle. (correction of Emmenagogue spelling in Supplement A 106.2)

Select Listings:

1796: Asher Atkinson was born in 1796 in Kingwood, Hunterdon, New Jersey.

1821: Birth of Son: His son Asher Dingee Atkinson was born in 1821 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Asher Dingee Atkinson (1821–1909)

1848: Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Balsam of Horehound advertisement – The John-donkey, Volume 1, 1848 (see below)

1858: Publication of Dr. Asher Atkinson’s Universal Family Medicines, Principal Depot, No. 230 Greenwich St., New York (see above)

1855: Asher Atkinson, Physician, Birth Year: abt 1797, Age: 58, Residence: New York City, Ward 9, New York, New York, District: E.D. 3, Household Members: Asher Atkinson 58, Mary Jane Atkinson 60, Sarah Gillespie, 27, Anabella Westergreen 16 – New York, State Census

1860: Asher Atkinson, Physician, Age: 60, Birth Year: abt 1800, Birth Place: New Jersey, Home in 1860: New York Ward 9, District 4, New York, New York – United States Federal Census

1865: DIED. ATKINSON. — On Tuesday, July 11, DR. ASHER ATKINSON, aged 70 years. The funeral will take place this day, (Wednesday,) at 3 o’clock P.M., from his late residence, in Clark St., near Myrtle-av., Claremont, N.J., 2 1/2 miles below Jersey City Ferry. The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend. The dummy railroad cars pass near the house, and leave the ferry every hour. The plank-road horse cars go within half a mile of the house. – July 12, 1865, New York Times

1909: OBITUARIES: ATKINSON – At New Brunswick. N. J. June 26, 1909. Dr. Asher D. Atkinson, aged 88 years. He graduated in medicine in 1840 but has not practised for many years. He was one of the founders of the American Numismatic Society.