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Why Music Object Spotlight
As Radio 3 takes up residence at Wellcome Collection in London to explore what makes music a vital part of being human, comedian and actor, Gryff Rhys Jones explores a history of health through objects on display.
First World War advertising showcard – Wincarnis Tonic Wine
About 1914-18
- Wincarnis is a tonic wine invented in the 1880s, originally called Liebig's Extract of Meat and Malt Wine
- The beef exctract, found in the original tonic, was invented by a German chemist, Justus von Liebig
- Tonics weren't intended as a medical product for malnutrition, but to aid recovery from over indulgence
- Coleman & Co, the company behind Wincarnis, spent over £50,000 on advertising the tonic in the early 1900s - over £5,000,000 today
- Beef extract wasn't the only strange addition to tonics like this one - another contained coca leaves, which when mixed with the alcohol turned to cocaine.
Image: Wellcome Collection
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Object spotlight: First World War advertising showcard – Wincarnis Tonic Wine
Gryff Rhys Jones and Simon Chaplin discuss a WWI advertising show-card for a tonic wine.
This is one of five objects explored as part of Why Music a partnership between BBC Radio 3 and Wellcome Collection.
