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- "American Medicinal Oil, Burkesville Kentucky" Bottle, 1830-1860 - Raw petroleum oozes out of the ground in swampy locations. In the early 1800s it had few industrial uses, but was widely thought to have medicinal properties. Some antebellum entrepreneurs bottled and sold it as "rock oil" or "seneca oil," both as a liniment and as a tonic for consumption and other ailments. "American Medicinal Oil" contained petroleum found around Burkesville, Kentucky.
- 1830-1860
- Collections - Artifact
"American Medicinal Oil, Burkesville Kentucky" Bottle, 1830-1860
Raw petroleum oozes out of the ground in swampy locations. In the early 1800s it had few industrial uses, but was widely thought to have medicinal properties. Some antebellum entrepreneurs bottled and sold it as "rock oil" or "seneca oil," both as a liniment and as a tonic for consumption and other ailments. "American Medicinal Oil" contained petroleum found around Burkesville, Kentucky.