History of Burnett

For more about these fascinating and decorative early pharmacy trademarks, please see: http://www.pharmacy.arizona.edu/museum/globes.php.

We encourage our readers to submit new information on these products and newly discovered Burnett products.

Note regarding the Burnett bottle sizes: If the quantity is not indicated on the bottle or container, whenever possible, a measurement of its height x width x depth is given.

Many of the ads presented below may seem redundant. We have included them so give an idea of the years these products were offered to the public, and the type of hype used to promote them over the years.

IMPORTANT Note Regarding all Images on this page: Most pictures are thumbnails which are links to larger versions of the small picture. There are many images which may be slow when downloading to your computer Please be patient as the images & text, particularly from an expanding thumbnail image, is more clearly viewed and read.

The two Cocaine bottle sizes in its early years were 1/2 pt. &1 pt. In later years (pictured below) the sizes were 3½ oz. and 6 oz. The reverse side was embossed Burnett’s Cocoaine. Price 50 cents for the ½ pt. & later 3 ½ oz. sizes and $1.00 for one pint & later 6 oz. sizes.

Burnett’s Cocoaine seems to be marketing the popularity of Cocaine at the time, as it was made from Cocoa-nut oil and does not contain Cocaine. It was concocted by Joseph Burnett in 1856 and was sold for over 40 years. Some continue to call this quackery medicine in light of our 21^st Century knowledge and lack of it as to the highly respected character of Dr. Burnett. As a matter of fact, if at this present day, one were to do a search on the net for “coconut oil and hair” they would find numerous pages still touting the benefits of coconut oil for restoring, softening, and promoting the growth of the hair, as well as its benefiting the skin and body (we personally found 82 pages-Ed.), including testimonials to its rejuvenating properties.

THE COCONUT PLANT (cocos nucifera) WHICH WAS THE PRINCIPAL INGREDIENT OF Burnett’s cocoaine

Cocaine is produced from the coca plant, Erythroxylum coca which was not used in Burnett’s cocoaine.

Source: Above two images, List of Koehler Images from Koehler's Medicinal-Plants 1887. Thanks to www.answers.com.

The side views of a Burnett’s Cocoaine Bottle with embossed “Burnett” and “Boston” on opposite sides

To see a more readable text of the above broadside, plus an article about a court case involving the trademark name “Cocoaine” please see the link below.

“This was the product of Joseph Burnett, of Boston. This product was for sale starting in 1856. A couple of years after the product was introduced, it was imitated by Phalon & Son's product: Cocoine. An ad in the 1860-61 Boston City Directory told about how Burnett had won an injunction against the Proprietors of Cocoine for trademark infringement. Edward Phalon & Sons had to change the product name to Cocin. Burnett's Cocoaine sold for over forty years and was one of the most successful hair preparations of the 19th century.”

“Burnett invented the Cocoaine in November of 1856. According to the product label, Cocoaine was entered according to an act of congress in 1857. The Era Formulary listed it as consisting of half cocoanut oil and half cologne water.”

“The brand name "Cocoaine" was registered as a trademark in 1927 (TM #246,413). They claimed at that time that the product was on the market since 1847, but in actuality, they were just guessing, based on the date Burnett was originally in business. Burnett's Cocoaine was still listed for sale in the 1901 Morrison & Plummer catalog.” : Don Fadley’s Antique Bottles @ www.hairraisingstories.com/PurchaseB.html.

No doubt this is one of those apocryphal stories, like George Washington cutting down the cherry tree. Some element of truth, with a great amount of exaggerating to create a more colorful story.

From the book; INTOXICATION-LIFE IN PURSUIT OF ARTIFICIAL PARADISE, Chapter 12, page 259. By Ronald K. Siegel, PhD., New York, Dutton, 1989.

Ad from the late 1850’s by a Burnett General Agent to help promote sales of the product.

Copy of this ad thanks to Don Fadely from his book “Hair Raising Stories”. (see http://www.hairraisingstories.com) and The National Cyclopedia of American Biography.

Burnett Advertisement promoting the use of many of their personal products for the toilet, including Cocoaine.

A Traveling Companion.--If the lady reader is about traveling or wishes to make a most acceptable gift to a friend about doing so--if she proposes visiting a watering place, or would like "something nice to have in the country," let her try one of Burnett's Toilet Companions, containing a bottle of Cocoaine, which dresses the hair perfectly, without greasing, drying, or stiffening it--a flacon of Florimel, one drop of which perfumes the handkerchief deliciously--one of Kalliston, the best cosmetic in the world, and one of the Oriental Tooth Wash. These preparations are not only of approved usefulness and all that they profess to be, but also remarkable for a delicacy of perfume and healthy purity, very seldom met with in articles which are sold at such moderate prices.--Philadelphia Bulletin. For sale by Druggists generally.

Copy of this ad thanks to Don Fadely from his book “Hair Raising Stories”. (see http://www.hairraisingstories.com) and The National Cyclopedia of American Biography.

This ad is particularly interesting in that it lists the dealer’s in several American cities who sell Burnett’s Cocoaine.

Copy of this ad thanks to Don Fadely from his book “Hair Raising Stories”. (see http://www.hairraisingstories.com) and The National Cyclopedia of American Biography.

Copies of these ads thanks to Don Fadely from his book “Hair Raising Stories”. (see http://www.hairraisingstories.com) and The National Cyclopedia of American Biography..

Copy of this ad thanks to Don Fadely from his book “Hair Raising Stories”. (see http://www.hairraisingstories.com) and The National Cyclopedia of American Biography.

A CARD.

Owing to the increased cost of all material used in the manufacture of Cocoaine and our other preparations, we have been compelled to advance the price. Our standard QUANTITY and QUALITY will remain unimpaired.

JOS. BURNETT & CO., Boston.

Sold by all druggists throughout the country.

Cocoaine.

BURNETT'S COCOAINE kills dandruff, dresses the hair perfectly, and renders it soft and glossy. There are worthless imitations of which the public should beware.

BURNETT'S PREPARATIONS go among the best class of people, and are pronounced incomparable.

An endorsement for Burnett’s Cocoaine and a price increase which was probably due to the material requirements for fighting the Civil War.

ALL THAT IT

CLAIMS TO BE.

So many compounds for the hair are offered for sale and unduly praised, that we confess we had no expectation of finding in Burnett's Cocoaine the qualities which it was said to possess. In this we have been disappointed. Members of our family who have tried it, indorse it as possessing superior hair-dressing properties; while its freedom from greasiness, the lustre that it imparts to hair, and its economy, have given it a permanent place on the toilet table.

We have no hesitancy in recommending it as being equal to all that it claims to be.—Chicago New Covenant.

A CARD.

JOS. BURNETT & CO., Boston.

Sold by all druggists throughout the country.

MARK: THESE TWO IMAGES DO NOT HAVE TO BE AS ONE. YOU CAN PLACE SPACES BETWEEN THEM.

Testimonials concerning the effect of Cocoaine on reversing and restoring hair loss. The last two are particularly interesting as they are from woman.

Copy of this ad thanks to Don Fadely from his book “Hair Raising Stories”. (see http://www.hairraisingstories.com) and The National Cyclopedia of American Biography.

Burnett's Cocaine

Promotes vigorous and healthy growth of the hair. It has been used in thousands of cases where the hair was coming out and has never failed to arrest the decay. Use Burnett's flavouring extract — the best.

Thanks to Scott McDonald of Amazing Arts for providing us with the above 2 images of the early ad and the rubber stamp.

FROM “FENNER’S COMPLETE FORMULARY” 6^TH EDITION, B. FENNER, PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, WESTFIELD, N.Y., 1888

This may not be the precise formula used by Joseph Burnett, but it serves to show the type of ingredients used to create Cocaine for the hair.

HAIR GROWERS-Formula for making Cocaine for the hair.

Cocoaine or Cocoa Cream.— Cocoanut Oil 1 ounce. Castor Oil

8 ounces, Cologne Spirit 7 ounces, Oil of Bergamot 1 drachm, Oil of Lemon 1/2 drachm. Melt the Cocoanut Oil by gentle heat and add it to the Castor Oil previously warmed, add the Cologne Spirit and, when cool, the flavoring Oils.

End label from a wooden packing crate which contained one half dozen Burnett’s Cocoaine bottles

According to the description from the Scribner’s ad above, this may be the “small sized” bottle.

Photos courtesy of Barbara Benedetto who has been a big help to us by acquiring many different Burnett items!

According to a customer’s wishes, Joseph Burnett and Co.’s Cologne Water could be purchased in a variety of bottles; one with or without a wicker covering, with a glass or a cork stopper, and in four different sizes.

The bottle is 7 1/2''high. On the base there are 2 blue /orange three cent PROPRIETARY STAMPS that are stamped in black: J.Burnett & Co. MAY 21, 1877 BOSTON.

Featuring very colorful and sometimes comical scenes from the late 1800’s.

This is an example of how the pharmacy would affix its label to a Burnett product bottle to show where it was purchased and, in most cases, to identify the contents.

Among its many uses probably the most remembered is its consumption to prevent constipation. It has a foul taste and was given to children routinely to keep their systems clean. It was feared and hated by them. Many who are adults today still harbor unpleasant memories associated with its taste. The practice seems to have slowed and died out after World War II. Many other positive uses for Castor Oil, however, can be found on the Web.

Burnett’s Cod Liver Oil bottle, clear, circa 1870's, stands about 8 inches x 8 ¾”, mold-blown by hand with a hand-tooled top and lip in the single, square-band style. Base is flush and smooth.

Ad from the Herald of Freedom & Torch Light, published in Hagerstown, MD., March 20, 1862

Courtesy of Carol J. Appenzellar, Project Manager, Historic Newspaper Indexing Project, Washington Co. Free Library, Hagerstown, MD.

Mark, Please leave the question mark in the title as we are not sure of the identity of this bottle.

This is an unusual and very colorful bottle (note: the top is partially broken). Size: 2 3/8” to top of bottle (3 ¼” at top of stopper x 5” around). This example came from a collection of smelling salt containers. We have not seen evidence of smelling salts sold under the Burnett name but, such a product is not uncommon among druggists. The bottle could, however, have contained perfume with the base of the glass top used as an applicator.

As can be seen from the photos below, the sides are identical, but the box ends are blank (not shown).

Photos are courtesy of the Superette Market, Washington Street, Holliston, Mass.

Below is a recipe from Rounding out the Meal “My Favorite Recipes” by the “Born Cook”, Margaret Weimer Heywood, published by The Joseph Burnett Company, 1935.

Bottle: Obverse & Reverse. Embossed Burnett on one side and Boston on the other side. 19^th Century.

The label at top right has directions to; remove tan, sunburn, freckles, redness and roughness of the skin, hay heat and irritation of the skin, dandruff, prevent the hair from falling off and promote its vigorous growth, treat mosquito bites & stings of insects, cure chapped hands, and for use as a gentlemen’s after shave.

Burnett’s Kalliston and oriental tooth wash from a very old ad in the new york times

Loveliness.

As it is proper and natural for our lady friends to wish to make themselves as lovely as possible, we feel it our duty to indicate the best means of bringing about that much-desired consummation, and we can confidently assert that any one who uses Burnett's celebrated Kalliston may obtain a fresh and satin-like complexion. This delightful preparation removes tan and freckles, and imparts a velvety softness to the skin. For chapped hands it is invaluable, while its healing properties and delicious perfume render it agreeable to every sense.—N. 0. Picayune.

Toilet Articles.

Among the many compounds now offering to our lady friends, there are few that we can so readily recommend as those emanating from the celebrated house of JOSEPH BURNETT & Co. They possess two qualities to which we would especially call attention, viz., the entire absence of all deleterious compounds, and the certainty that they will perform all they are said to do. The unpleasant and oftentimes painful results upon the skin attending exposure to our most changeable climate, may be entirely obviated by the use of Burnett's Kalliston, which has now become so useful an auxiliary to the toilet, that no lady considers her dressing table complete without it.—Galveston News.

From a lengthy ad for Burnett’s Kalliston and Oriental Tooth Wash in the New York Times.

This product may be more accurately described as a food product, but as its use was to clear impurities from coffee, we decided to place it in this text.

The bottles below are what are thought to have contained Burnett’s Oriental Tooth Wash. They are from an archeological dig and have been stored in a location with other brands of tooth wash. Unfortunately, many old bottles had their contents imprinted on paper labels fixed to the front, and sometimes front & back, of the container. These would be lost over the years, and they are not often found with their labels, making their contents an unknown. A similar style bottle was used by the Burnett Company for their extracts. Unless or until proven otherwise, we will display these as Oriental Tooth Wash bottles.

From Kansas Preservation, the newsletter of the, Kansas State Historical Society, Cultural Resources Division, May-June 2004, Vol. 26 No. 3, Pages 13 & 14, “The trail and the teeth”.

Our thanks to the Kansas State Historical Society for their permission to use these photos and, especially to Christine Garst of the Archeology Lab, who spent a lot of her valuable time looking into this for us. For more fascinating information concerning the history of Kansas, please see their website @http://www.kshs.org/.

Oriental Tooth Wash —Soap Bark (Quillaya) 4 ounces, Orris

Root 2 ounces. Tannin 30 grains, Cloves 60 grains. Oil Wintergreen 2 drachms, Cologne Spirit enough to make 20 ounces. Grind the drugs to a coarse powder and macerate for seven days in 1 pint of Cologne Spirit; pour off the liquid and put the drugs in a percolator; pour the liquid upon the drugs and percolate, adding Cologne Spirit in the percolator until 20 ounces of percolate are obtained. Dissolve the Oil of Wintergreen in the percolate, and filter, if necessary.

From “Fenner’s Complete Formulary” 6^th edition, B. Fenner, published by the author, Westfield, N.Y., 1888. (This may not be the precise formula used by Joseph Burnett, but it serves to show the type of ingredients used to create Oriental Tooth Wash).

Showing the origins, use, and testimonials for Jonas Whitcomb’s Asthma Cure.

Among his satisfied patients was a former President, Martin Van Buren. As an aside,Van Buren was known as “Old Kinderhook” from his birthplace, Kinderhook, N.Y.

“During Van Buren's presidential campaign of 1840 supporters popularized his nickname "Old Kinderhook," which was abbreviated as "OK." "OK Clubs" were set up. It is possible that this helped popularize "OK"”*, which may be the most recognized expression in the world (editor’s comment).

If you wish to see a lengthy advertisement from the New York Times containing many customer testimonials about Jonas Whitcomb’s Remedy for Asthma, please see the link below.

Those interested in learning more about bottle collecting, you will find him to be very helpful, and he has a wide range of informative books on the subject. Please see his website

*Buckeye Cookery and Practical Housekeeping, “The Arts of the Toilet”, 1892, by Estelle Woods Wilcox, has the recipe for Burnett’s Face Powder. Other Cooking and Practical Housekeeping books feature similar recipes. It is interesting in that the ingredient quantities are expressed in currency rather than liquid measure (below).

Boston Burnett Powder for the Face—Five cents worth of Bay Rum, five cents worth of Magnesia Snow-Flake, five cents worth of Bergamot, five cents worth of Oil of Lemon. Mix in a pint bottle and fill up with rain-water. Perfectly harmless and splendid.

Framed sign, reverse painted on glass. JOSEPH BURNETT & CO./ BOSTON./ PROPRIETORS OF/ COCAINE,/ KALLISTON,/ FLORIMEL,/ ORIENTAL TOOTH WASH/ JONAS WHITCOMB S ASTHMA REMEDY/ BURNETT S SUPERIOR COOKING EXTRACTS. Approximately 31 1/2 inches x 21 3/4 inches.

The wording is painted on metal. Dimensions of the sign, w/o the frame – approx. 24" X 18 ". Dimensions of the sign w/ the frame – approx. 27" X 23".

As Joseph Burnett and Theodore Metcalf were involved in business, we have included a brief history of Mr. Metcalf and the Theodore Metcalf Company with a sampling of its products. Mr. Metcalf died in 1894, ironically just a few months before the death of Joseph Burnett.

These examples are from his apothecary shop on Tremont Row, Boston. They would have contained products sold by chemists at the time.

Bottle 3: 7 5/8” tall at glass top (8”to metal clamp) x 11 3/8” around. Bottle 5: 7” tall x 9 ½” around.