Cordial tincture
Cordial tincture, empty bottle
- Measurements:
-
length 70 mm
width 49 mm
height 146 mm
- Materials:
- whole, glass, cut
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt1
- type:
- cordial tincture
This 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 and contents, c.1789, said to belong to the Duke of York by Fogelgerg and Chawner, English
Details
- Category:
- Materia Medica & Pharmacology
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A119982
- Materials:
- chest, mahogany, inlaid and lining, velvet
- Measurements:
-
length 269 mm
width 202 mm
height 337 mm
- type:
- medicine chests
- credit:
- Gray, E.M.
Parts
Castor oil
Castor oil, empty bottle
- Measurements:
-
length 70 mm
width 49 mm
height 146 mm
- Materials:
- whole, glass, cut
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt2
- type:
- castor oil
Cinnamon water
Cinnamon water, empty bottle
- Measurements:
-
length 70 mm
width 49 mm
height 146 mm
- Materials:
- whole, glass, cut
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt3
- type:
- cinnamon water
Spatual, listed as "elastic knife"
Spatual, listed as "elastic knife"
- Measurements:
-
length 242 mm
- Materials:
- blade, steel and handle, ivory
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt4
- type:
- spatulas
Spatula, heavy
Spatula, heavy
- Measurements:
-
length 228 mm
- Materials:
- blade, steel and handle, ivory
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt5
- type:
- spatulas
Spatula, ivory handle
Spatula, ivory handle listed as "elastic knife"
- Measurements:
-
length 170 mm
- Materials:
- blade, steel and handle, tortoiseshell
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt6
- type:
- spatulas
Pill slab
Pill slab
- Measurements:
-
length 125 mm
width 127 mm
thickness 9 mm
- Materials:
- whole, marble
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt7
- type:
- pill slabs
Brass key
Brass key
Steel key
Steel key
Spirit of sal volatile
Spirit of sal volatile, in bottle
- Measurements:
-
length 31 mm
width 31 mm
height 97 mm
- Materials:
- whole, glass
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt10
- type:
- spirit
Peppermint in bottle
Peppermint in bottle
- Measurements:
-
length 31 mm
width 31 mm
height 97 mm
- Materials:
- whole, glass
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt11
- type:
- peppermints
Bottle, unlabelled
Bottle, unlabelled, brown stains inside
- Measurements:
-
length 31 mm
width 31 mm
height 97 mm
- Materials:
- whole, glass
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt12
- type:
- bottles
Glass bottle for paregoric elixir
Glass bottle with glass stopper for paregoric elixir, empty. 97 mm x 31 mm x 31 mm, 116g. Handwritten note on back label reads, 'Good'. Folgelbert Chawner, English, 1786-1795.
More
This bottle contained a popular remedy called paregoric elixir, made from camphor, opium and benzoic acid in a solution of alcohol. It was used to treat coughs, as a pain relief, and to prevent diarrhoea. It was even rubbed on babies’ gums to lessen the pain of teething.
Workers in mills, mines and factories spent long hours in enclosed spaces where the air was thick with harmful textile or coal dust. Breathing in these tiny fibres caused lung problems such as asthma or coughs. With most employers not providing medical help or pay when off with illness, people turned to inexpensive remedies like this, to treat themselves and return to work.
Paregoric elixir could be bought in variously sized individual bottles from a chemist's store. However, this example is just one part of a well-stocked, elaborately crafted medicine chest. Only the wealthiest families would have owned a medicine chest such as this one, with veneered wood and many drawers and components, to hold their household medicines.
Since the Dangerous Drugs Act 1920, preparations of the addictive substance opium require a prescription in the United Kingdom. Earlier laws including the Pharmacy Act 1868 regulated who could dispense opium preparations.
- Measurements:
-
length 31 mm
width 31 mm
height 97 mm
116g
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt13
- type:
- paregoric elixir and bottle
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Drawer for opium
Wooden drawer for opium (one of four), now empty. 38 mm x 120mm x 110mm. Fogelbert Chawner, English, c. 1789.
- Measurements:
-
drawer: width 120 mm
drawer: height 38 mm
drawer: depth 110 mm
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt14
- type:
- drawer and medicine chest
Manna in compartment of drawer
Manna in compartment of drawer
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt15
- type:
- manna
Rhubarb in compartment of drawer
Rhubarb in compartment of drawer
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt16
- type:
- rhubarb
Gum arabic in compartment of drawer
Gum arabic in compartment of drawer
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt17
- type:
- gum arabic
Dr. Warner's pills
Dr. Warner's pills, in compartment of drawer
- Measurements:
-
drawer: width 120 mm
drawer: height 38 mm
drawer: depth 110 mm
- Materials:
- drawer, wood
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt18
- type:
- pills
Camphor in compartment of drawer
Camphor in compartment of drawer
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt19
- type:
- camphor
Sal nitri in compartment of drawer
Sal nitri in compartment of drawer
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt21
- type:
- sal nitri
Drawer, handle off
Drawer, handle off, containing handle and key
- Measurements:
-
width 78 mm
height 43 mm
depth 107 mm
- Materials:
- drawer, wood and handle & key, metal
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt22
- type:
- drawers
Two empty drawers
Two empty drawers
- Measurements:
-
width 78 mm
height 43 mm
depth 107 mm
- Materials:
- whole, wood
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt23
- type:
- drawers
Rule, 6 inch
Rule, 6 inch, folding
- Measurements:
-
folded: length 85 mm
folded: width 38 mm
- Materials:
- whole, silver (gilt)
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt24
- type:
- rules
Funnel, silver gilt
Funnel, silver gilt
- Measurements:
-
length 83 mm
diameter 40 mm
- Materials:
- whole, silver (gilt)
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt25
- type:
- funnels
Strainer, gauze partly missing
Strainer, gauze partly missing
- Measurements:
-
diameter 62 mm
height 33 mm
- Materials:
- whole, silver (gilt)
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt26
- type:
- strainers
Measure, double-ended
Measure, double-ended
- Measurements:
-
diameter 42 mm
height 64 mm
- Materials:
- whole, silver (gilt)
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt27
- type:
- measures
Scales, hand-held
Scales, hand-held
- Measurements:
-
beam: length 150 mm
- Materials:
- whole, metal
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt28
- type:
- balances
Weights, 2 and 1/2 drams
Weights, 2 and 1/2 drams
Weights, scruple
Weights, scruple, 1/2, 1, 2
White marble mortar
White marble mortar
- Measurements:
-
diameter 65 mm
height 37 mm
- Materials:
- whole, marble, white
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt32
- type:
- mortars
Pestle, white marble with wooden handle
Pestle, white marble with wooden handle
- Measurements:
-
length 68 mm
- Materials:
- whole, marble and handle, wood
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt33
- type:
- pestles
Ginger, not listed on lid of chest
Ginger, not listed on lid of chest, bottle
- Measurements:
-
length 55 mm
width 54 mm
height 115 mm
- Materials:
- whole, glass, cut
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt34
- type:
- ginger
Bottle, brown grainy mess inside
Bottle, brown grainy mess inside
- Measurements:
-
length 55 mm
width 54 mm
height 115 mm
- Materials:
- whole, glass, cut
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt35
- type:
- bottles
Bottle, golden liquid inside
Bottle, golden liquid inside
- Measurements:
-
length 55 mm
width 54 mm
height 115 mm
- Materials:
- whole, glass, cut and content, liquid
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt36
- type:
- bottles
Milk of sulphur
Milk of sulphur, in broken jar
- Measurements:
-
length 58 mm
width 52 mm
height 113 mm
- Materials:
- jar, glass , jar, metal , stopper, metal and stopper, cork
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt37
- type:
- sulphur
Turkey, powder jar
Turkey, powder jar
- Measurements:
-
length 58 mm
width 52 mm
height 113 mm
- Materials:
- jar, glass , jar, metal , stopper, metal and stopper, cork
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt38
- type:
- rhubarb
Magnesium carbonate
Magnesium carbonate, not as listed on lid of chest, in jar
- Measurements:
-
length 58 mm
width 52 mm
height 113 mm
- Materials:
- jar, glass , jar, metal , stopper, metal and stopper, cork
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt39
- type:
- magnesium carbonate
Sodium carbonate
Sodium carbonate, not listed on lid of chest, in jar
- Measurements:
-
length 58 mm
width 52 mm
height 113 mm
- Materials:
- jar, glass , jar, metal , stopper, metal and stopper, cork
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt40
- type:
- sodium carbonate
Medicine chest case (without contents see other parts)
Medicine chest case (without contents see other parts), c.1789, said to belong to the Duke of York by Fogelgerg and Chawner, English
- Measurements:
-
length 269 mm
width 202 mm
height 337 mm
- Materials:
- mahogany (wood) and velvet
- Object Number:
- A119982 Pt41
- type:
- case
