Wicker field medical pannier c. 1914-1918

Wicker No. 1 Field Medical Pannier, rectangular box with hinged lid and swing down front, 4 removable tin trays inside containing surgical gut, drugs and plasters, wooden lid, leather and iron fittings, English, 1914-1918

Parts

Two glass phials containing iodised catgut

Two glass phials containing iodised catgut

2 cardboard tubes each containing two glass phials with lengths of iodised catgut inside, S. Maw, Son & Sons, 7-12 Aldersgate Street, London, EC, England, 1914-1918.

Materials:
cardboard , glass and iodised catgut
Object Number:
A656241 Pt1
type:
containers
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Two cardboard containers for glass tube containing length of catgut ligature

Two cardboard containers for glass tube containing length of catgut ligature

2 cardboard containers for glass tube containing length of catgut ligature, S Maw, Son & Sons, 7-12 Aldersgate Street, London, EC, England, 1914-1918.

Materials:
cardboard and glass, tube
Object Number:
A656241 Pt2
type:
containers
Cardboard container for glass tube containing kangaroo tendon ligaments

Cardboard container for glass tube containing kangaroo tendon ligaments

Cardboard container for glass tube containing kangaroo tendon ligaments, S Maw, Son & Sons, 7-12 Aldersgate Street, London, EC, England, 1914-1918.

Materials:
cardboard and glass
Object Number:
A656241 Pt3
type:
containers
Two cardboard containers for glass bottle containing lengths of drainage tube.

Two cardboard containers for glass bottle containing lengths of drainage tube.

2 cardboard containers for glass bottle each with lengths of drainage tube inside, Maw, London, 1914-1918

Materials:
cardboard , bottle, glass and bottle, metal, cap
Object Number:
A656241 Pt4
type:
containers
Clear glass bottle for holding three lengths of sterilized drainage tubes

Clear glass bottle for holding three lengths of sterilized drainage tubes

Clear glass bottle with metal screw-thread cap for holding three lengths of sterilized drainage tubes, Allen and Hanburys, 48 Wigmore Street, London, W1, England, 1914-1918.

Materials:
glass and metal, cap
Object Number:
A656241 Pt5
type:
bottles
Blue glass bottle containing zinc sulphate tablets

Blue glass bottle containing zinc sulphate tablets

Blue glass bottle for zinc sulphate tablets, wooden stopper, with content, May and Baker, preparers, London, 1914-1918

Materials:
glass, blue , wood and cork, stopper
Object Number:
A656241 Pt6
type:
bottles
Seven rolls of surgeons rubber adhesive plaster

Seven rolls of surgeons rubber adhesive plaster

7 rolls of surgeons rubber adhesive plaster, 10 yds x 1 inch wide, Maw, London, preparer, 1914-1918

Materials:
adhesive , rubber and cardboard
Object Number:
A656241 Pt7
type:
plaster
Metal tin for silkworm ligature

Metal tin for silkworm ligature

Metal tin for silkworm ligature, circular, detachable lid painted black, empty

Materials:
metal
Object Number:
A656241 Pt8
type:
tins
Metal tube of soft paraffin ointment

Metal tube of soft paraffin ointment

Metal tube of soft paraffin ointment, Burgoyne, Burbidges and Co., East Ham, London

Materials:
tin and paper, cover
Object Number:
A656241 Pt9
type:
tube
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Metal drainage valve with two tubular drainage tubes

Metal drainage valve with two tubular drainage tubes

Metal drainage tube valve, bell-like apparatus with two tubular drainage tubes, Arnold and Sons, patentee, England

Materials:
metal and rubber, two drainage tubes on ends
Object Number:
A656241 Pt10
type:
valves
Length of rubber drainage tube

Length of rubber drainage tube

Length of rubber drainage tube, broken, perished, brown

Materials:
rubber
Object Number:
A656241 Pt11
type:
drainage tubes
Glass bottle with four asceptic drainage tubes

Glass bottle with four asceptic drainage tubes

Glass bottle with screw-on metal cap for 4 asceptic drainage tubes, J. G. Franklin, Birkbeck Works, Birkbeck Road, Dalston, London, E8, England.

Materials:
glass and metal, cap
Object Number:
A656241 Pt12
type:
bottles
Tin canister containing sodium chloride tablets

Tin canister containing sodium chloride tablets

Tin canister, oblong, hinged side opening, containing sodium chloride tablets

Materials:
tin
Object Number:
A656241 Pt13
type:
canisters
Tin canister, flat, rectangular, screw on stopper

Tin canister, flat, rectangular, screw on stopper

Black tin canister, flat, rectangular, neck at one end with screw-on stopper, contains some liquid

Materials:
tin
Object Number:
A656241 Pt14
type:
canisters
5 tin containers, each containing 12 sterile tubes with silk ligatures

5 tin containers, each containing 12 sterile tubes with silk ligatures

5 tin containers, cylindrical, each containing 12 sterile tubes with silk ligatures inside, Maw, London

Materials:
tin
Object Number:
A656241 Pt15
type:
canisters
Tin with nine glass tubes, containing six catgut and three silk ligatures

Tin with nine glass tubes, containing six catgut and three silk ligatures

Tin container, painted black, cylindrical, containing 9 glass tubes holding 6 catgut and 3 silk ligatures, Arnold and Sons, London

Materials:
tin
Object Number:
A656241 Pt16
type:
containers
Two vulcanite pestles with small globular crushing ends

Two vulcanite pestles with small globular crushing ends

2 vulcanite pestles, small globular crushing ends, narrow handles, black

Materials:
vulcanite
Object Number:
A656241 Pt17
type:
pestles
Three vulcanite containers for iodoform powder, with perforated caps

Three vulcanite containers for iodoform powder, with perforated caps

3 vulcanite containers for iodoform powder, cylindrical, with screw-on caps and perforated tops to dispense powder, with contents

Materials:
vulcanite
Object Number:
A656241 Pt18
type:
containers
Two black vulcanite containers without stoppers

Two black vulcanite containers without stoppers

2 black vulcanite containers, cylindrical, bases sunk into body, without stoppers

Materials:
vulcanite
Object Number:
A656241 Pt19
type:
containers
Green glass bottle for phenacetin tablets

Green glass bottle for phenacetin tablets

Green glass bottle for phenacetin tablets, empty, wooden stopper, Burgoyne, Burbidges, London, makers, East Ham

Materials:
glass , wood and cork, stopper
Object Number:
A656241 Pt20
type:
bottles
Rubber drainage tube, two pieces linked by glass tube

Rubber drainage tube, two pieces linked by glass tube

Coil of rubber drainage tube, two pieces linked by glass tube perished, very brittle and delicate

Materials:
rubber
Object Number:
A656241 Pt21
type:
drainage tubes
Five small sections of rubber drainage tubing

Five small sections of rubber drainage tubing

Five small sections of rubber drainage tubing, perished, coiled positions, all from same length

Materials:
rubber
Object Number:
A656241 Pt22
type:
drainage tubes
Metal hook, looped top, two ends parallel, hooked at end

Metal hook, looped top, two ends parallel, hooked at end

Metal hook, looped top, two ends parallel and hooked at end

Materials:
metal
Object Number:
A656241 Pt23
type:
hooks
Tin container for bottles of tablets

Tin container for bottles of tablets

Tin container for bottles of tablets, hinged lid, catch at front, compartments inside, for contents, see parts 25-33

Materials:
tin
Object Number:
A656241 Pt24
type:
tablet tins
Bottle of 5-grain Dover Powder tablets

Bottle of 5-grain Dover Powder tablets

Glass bottle with cork stopper of 5 grain Dover Powder tablets (ipecacuanha and opium). 53 mm x 30 mm x 30 mm, 47g. Made by Standard Tablet and Pill Co., Hove, Sussex, 1914-1918.

Measurements:
overall: 53 mm x 30 mm x 30 mm, 47g
Materials:
complete , ipecacuanha , opium , glass , wood and cork
Object Number:
A656241 Pt25
type:
bottle and opium
Brown glass bottle for Bismuth Salicylate tablets

Brown glass bottle for Bismuth Salicylate tablets

Brown glass bottle with cork and wooden stopper for Bismuth Salicylate tablets, Standard Tablet and Pill Co., Hove, Sussex

Materials:
glass , wood and cork, stopper
Object Number:
A656241 Pt26
type:
bottles
Brown glass bottle for compressed cough tablets

Brown glass bottle for compressed cough tablets

Brown glass bottle with cork and wooden stopper for compressed cough tablets (tincture of camphor), Parke, Davis and Co., London, maker

Materials:
glass , cork and wood, stopper
Object Number:
A656241 Pt27
type:
bottles
Brown glass bottle for phenacetin tablets

Brown glass bottle for phenacetin tablets

Brown glass bottle with cork and wood stopper for phenacetin tablets, empty, Standard Tablet and Pill Co. Ltd., Hove, Sussex

Materials:
glass , wood and cork, stopper
Object Number:
A656241 Pt28
type:
bottles
Brown glass bottle containing calomel tablets

Brown glass bottle containing calomel tablets

Brown glass bottle with cork and wooden stopper, for calomel tablets, with content, Standard Tablet and Pill Co., Hove, England, maker

Materials:
glass , cork and wood, stopper
Object Number:
A656241 Pt29
type:
bottles
Brown glass bottle for comp. of calomel, rhubarb and colocynth tablets

Brown glass bottle for comp. of calomel, rhubarb and colocynth tablets

Brown glass bottle with cork and wooden stopper for comp. of calomel, rhubarb and colocynth tablets, empty, England

Materials:
glass , wood and cork, stopper
Object Number:
A656241 Pt31
type:
bottles
Brown glass bottle for potassium permanganate tablets

Brown glass bottle for potassium permanganate tablets

Brown glass bottle (without stopper) for potassium permanganate tablets, empty, Standard Tablet and Pill Co., makers, Hove, England

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A656241 Pt32
type:
bottles
Brown glass bottle for extract of cascara and sagrada tablets

Brown glass bottle for extract of cascara and sagrada tablets

Brown glass bottle with cork and wooden stopper for extract of cascara and sagrada tablets, empty, Standard Tablet and Pill Co., maker

Materials:
glass , wood and cork, stopper
Object Number:
A656241 Pt33
type:
bottles
Clear glass bottle for carbolic acid

Clear glass bottle for carbolic acid

Clear glass bottle with glass stopper for carbolic acid, crystalized Burgoyne, Burbidge and Co., maker, London, Coleman Street

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A656241 Pt34
type:
bottles
Tin canister square in section, neck in corner at top with screw-thread cap

Tin canister square in section, neck in corner at top with screw-thread cap

Tin canister, oblong, square in section, neck in corner at top with screw-thread cap, inscription obscured by rust, with liquid contents, 1885, England

Materials:
tin
Object Number:
A656241 Pt36
type:
canisters
Tin canister,screw-thread cap with wire grip. Contains boric acid powder

Tin canister,screw-thread cap with wire grip. Contains boric acid powder

Tin canister, oblong, square in section, screw-thread cap with wire grip for boric acid powder, with content

Object Number:
A656241 Pt37
type:
canisters
Candle lamp with glass windows, brass candle holder and wax candle

Candle lamp with glass windows, brass candle holder and wax candle

Tin candle lamp with glass windows, brass candle holder inside, wax candle fitted from circular screw-on base, door at back with polished copper reflector, rectangular, rounded top with loop handles, Maw, London, maker

Materials:
tin , brass , copper , glass and wax, candle
Object Number:
A656241 Pt38
type:
candle lamps
Flat tin canister for castor oil, small neck in one corner

Flat tin canister for castor oil, small neck in one corner

Black painted tin canister, flat, rectangular, with small neck in one corner at top, for castor oil, some content

Materials:
tin
Object Number:
A656241 Pt39
type:
canisters
Pair of plated metal forceps with pointed ends

Pair of plated metal forceps with pointed ends

Pair of metal forceps, two pieces of plated metal prongs, pointed at ends roughened on outside

Materials:
metal (plated)
Object Number:
A656241 Pt40
type:
forceps
Army book of diagnosis labels

Army book of diagnosis labels

Army book containing diagnosis labels, with pencil attached, for tying onto wounded soldiers to give information about injuries received and initial treatment.

More

During the First World War (1914-1918), battle casualties could be overwhelming and with limited time and resources, treatment had to be prioritised. Using various forms of ‘triage’ were employed and care was mainly concentrated on those who might both survive and ideally also be made battle-ready again.

To classify and identify them, wounded soldiers had a label - sometimes called tags or tallies - tied to them which gave information about wounds and treatment given.

Materials:
cardboard , paper , wood, pencil and elastic
Object Number:
A656241 Pt41
type:
books
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Sterilized catgut ligatures in glass tubes

Sterilized catgut ligatures in glass tubes

5 cardboard boxes containing 6 glass tubes (each) of sterilized catgut ligatures, Cuxson, Gerrard and Co., Birmingham, maker, England

Materials:
cardboard and glass, tubes
Object Number:
A656241 Pt42
type:
boxes
Labels for container of iodized catgut ligatures

Labels for container of iodized catgut ligatures

2 paper labels for container of iodized catgut ligatures

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
A656241 Pt43
type:
labels
Tin box containing sterilizer with perforated tray and required accessories

Tin box containing sterilizer with perforated tray and required accessories

Tin box containing sterilizer with perforated tray, two rectangular containers for methylated spirits and one for soda, lamp, stand and carbolic soap tablets missing, Arnold and Sons, maker of sterilizer

Materials:
tin , felt, lining , sterilizer, chrome and containers, tin
Object Number:
A656241 Pt44
type:
sterilizer kit
Metal tube of soft paraffin ointment

Metal tube of soft paraffin ointment

metal tube of soft paraffin ointment, Burgoyne, Burbidges and Co., East Ham, London

Materials:
tin and paper, cover
Object Number:
A656241 Pt45
type:
tube
Paper wrapped tube of soft paraffin ointment

Paper wrapped tube of soft paraffin ointment

metal tube of soft paraffin ointment, Burgoyne, Burbidges and Co., East Ham, London

Materials:
tin and paper, cover
Object Number:
A656241 Pt46
type:
tube