Mahogany medicine chest

Made:
1801-1850 in London
Mahogany medicine chest

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

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

License

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

Medicine chest, mahogany, velvet lining, complete with 22 glass bottles, 21 labelled, glass pill tile, 2 metal boxes of ointment, 3 labelled glass jars of pills, glass measuring cylinder, glass pestle and mortar, 2 dressings, a bandage and scales and 11 weights, English, early 19th century

Details

Category:
Materia Medica & Pharmacology
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A104174
Materials:
chest, mahogany, lining, velvet and fittings, brass
Measurements:
height 223 mm
length 261 mm
width 187 mm
drawer: length 238 mm
drawer: width 176 mm
drawer: depth 67 mm
type:
medicine chests
credit:
Knight, Frank and Rutley

Parts

Bottle, unlabelled, contains flaky material, with cap and stopper

Bottle, unlabelled

Bottle, unlabelled, contains flaky material, with cap and stopper

Measurements:
height 128 mm
length 40 mm
width 27 mm
Materials:
bottle, glass and cap, leather
Object Number:
A104174 Pt1
type:
bottles
Glass bottle with glass stopper for Paregoric Elixir with trace contents remaining. 118 mm x 40 mm x 28 mm, 140g. By Dinneford and Ealing, English, 1830-1850.

Bottle of Paregoric Elixir

Glass bottle with glass stopper for Paregoric Elixir with trace contents remaining. 118 mm x 40 mm x 28 mm, 140g. By Dinneford and Ealing, English, 1830-1850.

Measurements:
height 118 mm
length 40 mm
width 28 mm
140 g.
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A104174 Pt2
type:
bottle and opium
Bottle of hartshorn spirit, three quarters full colourless liquid, with stopper

Bottle of hartshorn spirit

Bottle of hartshorn spirit, three quarters full colourless liquid, with stopper

Measurements:
height 119 mm
length 40 mm
width 28 mm
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A104174 Pt3
type:
bottles
Bottle of ipecacuanha powder, full yellow powder, with stopper

Bottle of ipecacuanha powder

Bottle of ipecacuanha powder, full yellow powder, with stopper

Measurements:
height 119 mm
length 41 mm
width 28 mm
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A104174 Pt4
type:
bottles
Bottle of lemon acid crystals, full colourless crystals, leather cap

Bottle of lemon acid crystals

Bottle of lemon acid crystals, full colourless crystals, leather cap

Measurements:
height 119 mm
length 40 mm
width 28 mm
Materials:
bottle, glass and cap, leather
Object Number:
A104174 Pt5
type:
bottles
Bottle of sweet spirit of nitre, quarter full colourless spirit, leather cap

Bottle of sweet spirit of nitre

Bottle of sweet spirit of nitre, quarter full colourless spirit, leather cap

Measurements:
height 119 mm
length 40 mm
width 28 mm
Materials:
bottle, glass and cap, leather
Object Number:
A104174 Pt6
type:
bottles
Bottle of benzoin tincture, full brown liquid, leather cap

Bottle of benzoin tincture

Bottle of benzoin tincture, full brown liquid, leather cap

Measurements:
height 123 mm
length 40 mm
width 28 mm
Materials:
bottle, glass and cap, leather
Object Number:
A104174 Pt7
type:
bottles
Bottle of bark tincture, quarter full brown liquid, with stopper

Bottle of bark tincture

Bottle of bark tincture, quarter full brown liquid, with stopper

Measurements:
height 123 mm
length 43 mm
width 41 mm
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A104174 Pt8
type:
bottles
Bottle of soap liniment, half full amber liquid, with stopper

Bottle of soap liniment

Bottle of soap liniment, half full amber liquid, with stopper

Measurements:
height 119 mm
length 42 mm
width 42 mm
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A104174 Pt9
type:
bottles
Bottle of soda carbonate, small amount white powder, with stopper

Bottle of soda carbonate

Bottle of soda carbonate, small amount white powder, with stopper

Measurements:
height 121 mm
length 42 mm
width 40 mm
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A104174 Pt10
type:
bottles
Bottle of lavender spirit, half full dark red liquid with cap

Bottle of lavender spirit

Bottle of lavender spirit, half full dark red liquid with cap

Measurements:
height 121 mm
length 40 mm
width 40 mm
Materials:
bottle, glass and cap, leather
Object Number:
A104174 Pt11
type:
bottles
Bottle of senna tincture, full brown liquid, with cap

Bottle of senna tincture

Bottle of senna tincture, full brown liquid, with cap

Measurements:
height 125 mm
length 42 mm
width 42 mm
Materials:
bottle, glass and cap, leather
Object Number:
A104174 Pt12
type:
bottles
Bottle of dried epsom salt, three quarters full white powder

Bottle of dried epsom salt

Bottle of dried epsom salt, three quarters full white powder

Measurements:
height 126 mm
length 62 mm
width 51 mm
Materials:
bottle, glass and cap, leather
Object Number:
A104174 Pt13
type:
bottles
Bottle of rhubarb powder, solidified block of brown powder present, with cap

Bottle of rhubarb powder

Bottle of rhubarb powder, solidified block of brown powder present, with cap

Measurements:
height 125 mm
length 52 mm
width 49 mm
Materials:
bottle, glass and cap, leather
Object Number:
A104174 Pt14
type:
bottles
Bottle of calcined magnesia, half full white powder, with cap

Bottle of calcined magnesia

Bottle of calcined magnesia, half full white powder, with cap

Measurements:
height 130 mm
length 52 mm
width 49 mm
Materials:
bottle, glass and cap, leather
Object Number:
A104174 Pt15
type:
bottles
Bottle of castor oil, small amount of yellow liquid, with cap

Bottle of castor oil

Bottle of castor oil, small amount of yellow liquid, with cap

Measurements:
height 128 mm
length 62 mm
width 50 mm
Materials:
bottle, glass and cap, leather
Object Number:
A104174 Pt16
type:
bottles
Medicine chest, mahogany case, velvet lining (without contents see other parts), English, early 19th century

Medicine chest

Medicine chest, mahogany case, velvet lining (without contents see other parts), English, early 19th century

Measurements:
height 223 mm
length 261 mm
width 187 mm
drawer: length 238 mm
drawer: width 176 mm
drawer: depth 67 mm
Materials:
brass (copper, zinc alloy) , mahogany (wood) and velvet
Object Number:
A104174 Pt17
type:
case
Bottle of lead extract, broken, small amount white powder present, with stopper

Bottle of lead extract

Bottle of lead extract, broken, small amount white powder present, with stopper

Measurements:
length 32 mm
width 24 mm
height 54 mm
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A104174 Pt18
type:
bottles
Bottle of emetic tartar, full white powder, with cap

Bottle of emetic tartar

Bottle of emetic tartar, full white powder, with cap

Measurements:
height 61 mm
length 32 mm
width 17 mm
Materials:
bottle, glass and cap, leather
Object Number:
A104174 Pt19
type:
bottles
Bottle of camphor acetic acid, small amount brown liquid present, with stopper

Bottle of camphor acetic acid

Bottle of camphor acetic acid, small amount brown liquid present, with stopper

Measurements:
height 59 mm
length 33 mm
width 19 mm
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A104174 Pt20
type:
bottles
Bottle of peppermint essence, small amount brown liquid present, with stopper

Bottle of peppermint essence

Bottle of peppermint essence, small amount brown liquid present, with stopper

Measurements:
height 61 mm
length 33 mm
width 19 mm
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A104174 Pt21
type:
bottles
Bottle of prepared calomel, full white powder, with stopper

Bottle of prepared calomel

Bottle of prepared calomel, full white powder, with stopper

Measurements:
height 61 mm
length 33 mm
width 19 mm
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A104174 Pt22
type:
bottles
Small clear glass, rectangle based bottle with glass stopper and paper label. To contain Laudanum, or Tincture of Opium. Believed to have possibly been from a small medicine chest. Contents mostly gone, remaining dry and congealed.

bottle; controlled drug; opium

Small clear glass, rectangle based bottle with glass stopper and paper label. To contain Laudanum, or Tincture of Opium. Believed to have possibly been from a small medicine chest. Contents mostly gone, remaining dry and congealed.

Measurements:
height 53 mm
length 32 mm
width 27 mm
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A104174 Pt23
type:
bottle and opium
Metal box, nearly full whitish wax, label torn

Metal box

Metal box, nearly full whitish wax, label torn

Measurements:
height 58 mm
length 53 mm
width 36 mm
Materials:
tin
Object Number:
A104174 Pt24
type:
boxes
Metal box, block of brown substance present, unlabelled

Metal box

Metal box, block of brown substance present, unlabelled

Measurements:
height 58 mm
length 53 mm
width 35 mm
Materials:
tin
Object Number:
A104174 Pt25
type:
boxes
Jar of calomel pills, small amount brown powder present, with cap

Jar of calomel pills

Jar of calomel pills, small amount brown powder present, with cap

Measurements:
height 47 mm
max: diameter 28 mm
Materials:
jar, glass and cap, tin
Object Number:
A104174 Pt26
type:
jars
Bottle of aperient pills, about a dozen brown tablets present, with cap

Bottle of aperient pills

Bottle of aperient pills, about a dozen brown tablets present, with cap

Measurements:
height 52 mm
max: diameter 32 mm
Materials:
jar, glass and cap, tin
Object Number:
A104174 Pt27
type:
jars
Small glass jar with foot and tin lid of round black Squill pills, half-full. 49 mm x 32 mm diameter, 43 g. Unknown maker, English, early 19th century.

Glass jar of squill pills

Small glass jar with foot and tin lid of round black Squill pills, half-full. 49 mm x 32 mm diameter, 43 g. Unknown maker, English, early 19th century.

Measurements:
height 49 mm
max: diameter 32 mm
43 g
Materials:
half-full , glass , tin and squill
Object Number:
A104174 Pt28
type:
jar and squill
Measuring cylinder, glass

Measuring cylinder

Measuring cylinder, glass

Measurements:
height 96 mm
max: diameter 32 mm
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A104174 Pt29
type:
measuring cylinders
Pestle, glass

Pestle, glass

Pestle, glass

Measurements:
height 66 mm
max: diameter 24 mm
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A104174 Pt30
type:
pestles
Mortar, glass

Mortar, glass

Mortar, glass

Measurements:
height 49 mm
max: diameter 74 mm
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A104174 Pt31
type:
mortars
Lint dressing

Lint dressing

Lint dressing

Measurements:
length 120 mm
Materials:
lint
Object Number:
A104174 Pt32
type:
dressings
Burndressing, wax surface disrupted

Burndressing, wax surface disrupted

Burndressing, wax surface disrupted

Measurements:
length 138 mm
Materials:
cloth, wax-covered
Object Number:
A104174 Pt33
type:
dressings
Envelope for sticking plaster

Envelope for sticking plaster

Envelope for sticking plaster

Measurements:
plaster: length 68 mm
plaster: width 55 mm
envelope: length 103 mm
envelope: width 59 mm
Materials:
bandage, plastic, type and envelope, paper
Object Number:
A104174 Pt34
type:
bandages
Handheld scales

Handheld scales

Handheld scales

Measurements:
beam: length 124 mm
pans: diameter 51 mm
Materials:
beam, steel and pans, silver
Object Number:
A104174 Pt35
type:
scales
2 dram weight

2 dram weight

2 dram weight

Measurements:
length 15 mm
width 15 mm
Materials:
lead
Object Number:
A104174 Pt36
type:
weights
1 dram weight

1 dram weight

1 dram weight

Measurements:
length 12 mm
width 12 mm
Materials:
lead
Object Number:
A104174 Pt37
type:
weights
1/2 dram weight

1/2 dram weight

1/2 dram weight

Measurements:
length 10 mm
width 10 mm
Materials:
lead
Object Number:
A104174 Pt38
type:
weights
2 scruple weight

2 scruple weight

2 scruple weight

Measurements:
length 10 mm
width 10 mm
Materials:
lead
Object Number:
A104174 Pt39
type:
weights
1/2 scrupe weight

1/2 scrupe weight

1/2 scrupe weight

Measurements:
length 7 mm
width 7 mm
Materials:
lead
Object Number:
A104174 Pt40
type:
weights
6 grain weight

6 grain weight

6 grain weight

Measurements:
length 18 mm
width 15 mm
Materials:
lead (foil)
Object Number:
A104174 Pt41
type:
weights
5 grain weight

5 grain weight

5 grain weight

Measurements:
length 16 mm
width 15 mm
Materials:
lead (foil)
Object Number:
A104174 Pt42
type:
weights
4 grain weight

4 grain weight

4 grain weight

Measurements:
length 13 mm
width 12 mm
Materials:
brass (foil)
Object Number:
A104174 Pt43
type:
weights
3 grain weight

3 grain weight

3 grain weight

Measurements:
length 10 mm
width 10 mm
Materials:
lead (foil)
Object Number:
A104174 Pt44
type:
weights
2 grain weight

2 grain weight

2 grain weight

Measurements:
length 10 mm
width 10 mm
Materials:
lead (foil)
Object Number:
A104174 Pt45
type:
weights
1 grain weight

1 grain weight

1 grain weight

Measurements:
length 6 mm
width 6 mm
Materials:
lead (foil)
Object Number:
A104174 Pt46
type:
weights
Mahogany medicine chest, English, 1801-1850.

Mahogany medicine chest

Mahogany medicine chest, English, 1801-1850.

Object Number:
A104174/47
type:
medicine chest

Related Objects

Boxed bottle for 100 stilboestrol tablets, dummy, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., London, 1939

Boxed bottle for 100 stilboestrol tablets
Bottle of unidentified zinc and mercury compound, by Savory and Moore, 143 New Bond Street, London, W1, England, 1901-1920.

Bottle of unidentified zinc and mercury compound

First aid kit

Advertisement for 'Clarke's Blood Mixture', published England, 1925-1926

Unguentarium

Fungus known as Fu ling in Traditional Chinese Medicine, China, 1850-1920