Brass fumigator, France, 1741-1850

Brass fumigator, France, 1741-1850 Brass fumigator, France, 1741-1850 Brass fumigator, France, 1741-1850 Brass fumigator, France, 1741-1850 Brass fumigator, France, 1741-1850 Ornate brass ladle shaped fumigator with double bowl

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Ornate brass ladle shaped fumigator with double bowl
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

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