Medicine glass and minim measure, 1870-1930

Graduated medicine glass with minim measure, in case, British(?), 1870-1930

Medicine glasses and minim measures like these remained standard pieces of equipment for decades. They were used for accurately measuring out liquid medicines. A minim was a measurement used by apothecaries, equivalent to one drop of water.

Two scales, in teaspoons and tablespoons, are scratched on to the side of the medicine glass, which was used to measure out larger quantities of medicines. These measures could have been used in the home, but were often carried by doctors or formed part of a nurse’s kit when carrying out home visits.