Ornate brass ladle shaped fumigator with double bowl, inner with separate cover and perforated, outer decorative metal work, French, 1741-1850
Sweet smelling herbs and plants were set alight inside this brass fumigator and the smoke given off was used to purify and disinfect the air around the person carrying the torch. It is based on the miasma theory, the idea that disease was caused by bad smells in the air from rotting animal matter, human waste and stagnant water. This theory of disease also appeared to give an explanation for why rubbish strewn poor areas with bad sanitation were more at risk from disease.
Details
- Category:
- Public Health & Hygiene
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A79136
- Materials:
- brass
- Measurements:
-
overall: 40 mm x 200 mm x 80 mm, 80 mm, .19kg
- type:
- fumigator
- credit:
- Pagenol