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Description: Medicinal wine bottle; transparent green glass, sealed lid wrapped in metallic foil. Around the upper portion of neck an off-white label with light teal Chinese characters. On the main body of the bottle is an orange rectangular label with printed Chinese characters. Far left in photograph.

Object History: This item originates from the Chinese Herbalist Store "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.", Victoria B.C.

Marks/Labels: Label contains characters that are literally translated to: a brand name; "nourish"; "hygiene"; "medicine"; "wine"; and "tincture" (medical alcohol/wine). When adjusted for English comprehension, product is "Health tincture". The tincture includes a mixture of Chinese medicinal herbs with the addition of caterpillar fungus and turtle shell to replenish energy. It has the function of replenishing qi and invigorating qi, replenishing blood, nourshing the kidney,increasing male libido, treating the lack of appetite, refreshing the mind, getting rid of wind in the body, and improving circulation. The sale of all secret formulae non-pharmaceutical medicinal preparations in Canada is regulated by The proprietary or patent Medicine Act. This law legalizes the sale of such remedies only upon condition that the quantities of the potent drugs used in their manufacture are within the limitations set by an Advisory Board, and that these quantities are printed on the labels and wrappers used in connection with the medicine and, further, that no false, misleading or exaggerated claims or representations of a cure for any disease are made on the labels and wrappers, or in any other manner respecting this article.

Subjects: Science and Technology Tools and Equipment; Persons - Chinese Canadians