In the early 20th century, Canadian society was dealing with a multitude of different illnesses and infectious diseases. One of the most prominent and difficult to eradicate was tuberculosis. Despite effort on the part of Canadians and the federal, provincial, and municipal governments, the disease continued to afflict Canadians well into the 20th century. N.C. Polson & Company manufactured and sold several different kinds of medicine, including ones that allegedly helped manage tuberculosis. Throughout Polson & Co.'s Almanac, there are several advertisements for products produced by N.C. Polson & Company, including cough syrups and flu medications. The advertisements explain the effects of the medicines and claim that they are all incredibly effective. However, it is the success stories of the various drugs that take up the most space in the cookbook. It is unclear if the success stories are legitimate or not, but their presence indicates that Canadians at the time were looking for effective cure-alls and wanted to take charge of their own health by purchasing drugs from companies such as N.C. Polson & Company. 

One of the more surprising claims in this book is that N.C. Polson & Company's products are also effective for farm animals such as horses. Agriculture was an important component of Canadian society in the early 20th century as most Canadians still lived and worked in rural areas. Horses and other large animals served important purposes on farms. N.C. Polson & Company clearly recognized the importance of farm animals' health at the time and concocted a product that promoted animal health. Within the cookbook, there are quite a few pages dedicated to veterinary medicine and helpful tips and instructions regarding farm life at the time. 

Of the recipes published in this cookbook, they all share a common theme which is dessert. There are several sections including Cakes, Delicious Candies, Pies, and Sweets. In the early years of the 20th century, Canadian historians note that the country was going through what was called "The Great Boom," or a time of consistent economic growth that would last for several years. Strong trading relationships, domestic production, and available jobs contributed to this boom. Canada's population was also growing and more Canadians had money to spend on small luxuries. The focus on desserts in this cookbook suggests that sweets and sugary treats were in vogue at the time and Canadians enjoyed spending money on the various ingredients that were required to produce these confections.