Page 19 - Pharmacy History 37 Nov 2009

more professional while saving
the taxpayers large sums as well. There were many champions in
the Guild who led the way into computerisation including those who negotiated Commonwealth financial assistance for members to do so.
But the real champions remain Colin Trevena and Ted Crook.
We are grateful to all the participants in the computers in pharmacy story, and especially for comments and archival material from Mark Dunn of AusPharm e News.
This is an abridged version of Colin Trevena’s reminiscences.
For the full text please refer to Stephen Greenwood’s book Ready Prepared, The History of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia pp 149- 52 2008.
References
1. AJP February 1978 pp 84.
2. Ted Crook Interview with the author 2007. 3. AJP September 1981 pp 642.
4. AJP March 1987 pp 148.
5. AJP March 1988 pp 286.
Just the tonic
Francis Hardy
According to legend the international drink Coca Cola began in modest surroundings in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, where in 1886 a pharmacist
Dr John Pemberton, first produced a syrup in a three legged pot in his back yard. The new product went on sale as a soda fountain drink in 1886 and the trade mark Coca Cola was registered in the US in 1893.
Promoted as delicious and refreshing, sales of the American product began to boom. Many manufacturers around the world looked to imitating Coca Cola, but none succeeded like the original drink.
The Australian company, FH Faulding and Co, introduced a tonic wine labelled Vi-Kola. According to the company’s obsolete formula book, which dates from 1890 to 1980, the basic ingredients were liquid extract of kola, port wine and pure caffeine.
Liquid extract of kola is made from kola nuts imported from West Africa and the West Indies. The seeds from the nuts, when crushed, contain 1
to 2.5% caffeine. The pure caffeine included in the formula would be used to standardise the total caffeine content of the finished product of 10%.
A sample of the advertising that Faulding used when Vi Kola was introduced:
‘A valuable recuperative for Professional Men, journalists, students, athletes, travellers, Sportsmen, and all who have to sustain prolonged mental or physical exertion.
VI-KOLA is especially useful as a diuretic in conditions of feeble heart.
VI-KOLA should be taken in all exhaustive nausea, in dysentery. And in chronic and obstinate diarrhoea.
VI-KOLA is the best remedy as an excitant and exhilirant in cases of mental depression.
VI-KOLA (Registered) This PERFECT TONIC has been specially introduced at the request of the Medical Faculty.
The Vi Kola label shows it was manufactured in London by FH Faulding & Co of 54 Great Tower St, London. Faulding were also at Adelaide, Perth and Sydney.
It contains KOLA - RED, the only constituent of Kola which augments sensibly the number and intensity of the muscular contractions.
VI-KOLA is a valuable Heart Tonic and Nerve Stimulant. It assists the functions of the digestive organs, strengthens the Physical and Mental powers, and relieves the Dullness and Oppressiveness of Nervous Debility.
VI-KOLA is recommended in Pneumonia and Asthma, and the only suitable stimulant during labor to relieve weariness and exhaustion.
VI-KOLA arrests Bodily and Mental Fatigue and in many cases is useful as a preventive of Alcoholic Craving.
In small doses VI-KOLA increases the appetite and promotes digestion. In cases of sleeplessness from exhaustion and fatigue it is invaluable producing sound and refreshing sleep without the distressing sensations so common after the use of Opiates and other drugs. Professional men, Journalists; Students, Athletes, Travelers and sports men
Etc, Etc... ‘
This product may have been launched in London because Coca Cola itself first appeared in England in 1901.
Today there is still a huge market for caffeine based stimulant drinks and brand names such as V and Red Bull are promoted internationally.
(continued from page 3)
appreciation of pharmacy history in pharmacy undergraduate courses.
This has been difficult to achieve nationally, but with courses changing both in our profession and in Medicine, new opportunities could well emerge to embed pharmacy history and understanding of its contribution into the roll out of the study of diseases.
Vice Presidents
It is appropriate to acknowledge the valued input and co- operation of our Academy’s Vice Presidents. They have given their time freely and without reward, Catherine Bartho, Peter Lynch, Keith Smith, Ralph Tapping and Radley West. A very sincere thank you to every one of you.
volume 5 no 37 NOVEMBER 2009
Pharmacy History Australia 19