E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Bolus.
An apothecary. Apothecaries are so called because they administer boluses. Similarly Mrs. Suds is a washer-woman; Boots is the shoeblack of an inn, etc.
1
George Colman adopts the name for his apothecary, who wrote his labels in rhyme, one of which was—
2
“When taken,
To be well shaken”;
but the patient being shaken, instead of the mixture, died.
