I'm not sure if this oddity should go here or in the Misc. stoves section. It's a medical device from sometime before about the 1930s. It consists of a small tin wicking burner that looks like it was originally a lamp fitting. The burner sits in a small tin stand which holds a tin dish for vaporising the patent medicine. I suspect cresylene was a variation of cresol, a coal tar by-product. The box says "this lamp should not be used until the directions on the enclosed circular are read very carefully". Of course my enclosed circular is missing. Since it looks like a kerosene lamp, I'll get some low odour kerosene and try it with a scented soy melt at some time in the future. The assembled burner. The wick had not even been fitted. The font and wick holder. Looks very much like a regular lamp burner repurposed. The box is in reasonable condition.
Howdy, @gnome , Very interesting device, but way after my time in the medical field. I know we have a couple of real doctors in our membership at CCS, and hopefully, one will have more information on this device. Thanks for sharing it here. IF I come up with more info, as time passes, I will definitely post it here. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
"...Cresolene is a dark liquid with a pungent smell made from coal tar used in the 19th and early 20th century as a disinfectant..." Hmmm... inhaling disinfectants. Sounds almost...Trumpian.
And don't forget to inject Mercury as the cure for Shore Leave Pox. If the patient complains, that's a sure sign of Melancholic Humor, and you should bleed them 2 or 3 gills.
