189
Take Your Meds
J. Henry Zeilen, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania got up early the morning of March
7, 1882. He washed up and grabbed his bottle of
medicine. In the top of the bottle was a cork with a
worm threaded into it. Above the worm was a
dose cup handle. He gave it a slight tug to pull the
cork out, then he poured and drank his dose of
medicine.
Henry got a patent for his idea on that date
(United States Patent No. 254,760). Henry wrote
“
Much inaccuracy in the measurement of family
doses of medicine arises from the varying sizes of
spoons by which they are usually administered.
”
He says that his invention can
be made to hold a
“
tea-spoonful, a dessert-spoonful, or a table-spoonful.
”
_______________________________
On September 12, 1882 Cornelius T. Williamson, Newark, New Jersey patented
his
“
Combined Spoon and Corkscrew.
”
United States Patent Number 264,391
was assigned to the invention.
Williamson addressed the folding
worm with
“
When the spoon and the
screw are folded the point of the latter is protected by the sides of the bowl of the
spoon, and the device may consequently be handled or carried in the pocket
without liability of injury to either person or clothing.
”
One example of Williamson
‟
s patent has a bowl full of advertising:
“
Tabloids of
Compressed Drugs, Hazeline Cream, Keppler Extract Essence of Malt, Keppler
Solution of Cod Liver Oil, Digestive, Demulgent, Strengthening, Hazeline Beer &
Iron Wine.
”
