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Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
LicenseComplete pill cutter in very good condition
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Complete pill cutter in very good condition
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Complete pill cutter in very good condition, made of mahogany and brass, English, second half of 19th century
In the 1700s and 1800s, pills were made by mixing the ingredients together with liquorice or a sugar solution and rolling it out into strips. By pressing between the rows of cutters on the base and the handle, the strips would be equally divided into pills. The mahogany and brass tool would have been used by a pharmacist or apothecary. Once cut, the pills were hardened, coated and stored.
Details
- Category:
- Pharmacy-ware
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A639917
- Materials:
- mould, mahogany, mould, brass, slider, mahogany, slider, brass and tray, mahogany
- Measurements:
-
overall: 1.8kg
base: 50 mm x 120 mm x 335 mm, 1.18kg
handle: 55 mm x 360 mm x 76 mm, .61kg
- type:
- pill cutter
- credit:
- Gornall
