This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
Group shot of from left to right A665264 - Flint nodule, shaped as foot and shin, carried or kept in bedroom as a cure
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Flint nodule in shape of a foot and shin, carried or kept in the bedroom as a cure for gout, north-east England, 1908-1916
The growing influence of biomedicine in the 1800s did not necessarily replace established forms of treatment based on belief and superstition. What could be referred to a folk medicine – customs that often went back generations – continued to be practised. For example, the limb-shaped flint nodule on the left was carried around or kept in the bedroom as a cure for gout. It was believed that the pain was transferred from person to stone.
The piece of flint was a gift in 1916 from Edward Lovett (1852-1933), a collector of British amulets and charms. It is shown here with two other examples (A38134 and A665264).
Related people
Details
- Category:
- Ethnography and Folk Medicine
- Object Number:
- A665276
- type:
- flint nodule
- credit:
- Lovett collection
Cite this page
Rights
We encourage the use and reuse of our collection data.
Data in the title, made, maker and details fields are released under Creative Commons Zero
Descriptions and all other text content are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence
Download
Download catalogue entry as json
View 
manifest in IIIF viewer
Add to Animal Crossing Art Generator
Download manifest IIIF
Our records are constantly being enhanced and improved, but please note that we cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information shown on this website.
