Rectangular wooden medicine chest with hinged lid and 2 hinged swing fronts

Made:
1750-1850
Rectangular wooden medicine chest with hinged lid and 2 hinged swing fronts

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

Rectangular wooden medicine chest with hinged lid and 2 hinged swing fronts. Metal band with large carrying handle. Contains 12 bottles, 3 cannisters, plasters, knife, measure and 2 advertising sheets, Italian, 1750-1850

Details

Category:
Materia Medica & Pharmacology
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A129169
Materials:
wood, metal, velvet and felt
Measurements:
length 187 mm
width 187 mm
depth 180 mm
type:
medicine chests
credit:
Ferrando

Parts

Small square clear glass bottle with pewter screw on cap, rounded shoulders, empty. Used for, 'Acqua del Poinelli'

Small square clear glass bottle with pewter screw on cap

Small square clear glass bottle with pewter screw on cap, rounded shoulders, empty. Used for, 'Acqua del Poinelli'

Measurements:
height 74 mm
length 30 mm
width 30 mm
Materials:
glass and pewter
Object Number:
A129169 Pt1
type:
bottles
Small square clear glass bottle with pewter screw-on cap, contains fragments of roots (Ipecacuanha)

Small square clear glass bottle with pewter screw-on cap

Small square clear glass bottle with pewter screw-on cap, contains fragments of roots (Ipecacuanha)

Measurements:
height 77 mm
length 30 mm
width 30 mm
Materials:
glass and pewter
Object Number:
A129169 Pt2
type:
bottles
Small square clear glass bottle with pewter screw-on cap, contains white powder. Inscription reads, 'Specifico di Sementius/Scrogliei Calcoli/Oncia'

Small square clear glass bottle with pewter screw-on cap

Small square clear glass bottle with pewter screw-on cap, contains white powder. Inscription reads, 'Specifico di Sementius/Scrogliei Calcoli/Oncia'

Measurements:
height 78 mm
length 30 mm
width 30 mm
Materials:
glass and pewter
Object Number:
A129169 Pt3
type:
bottles
Small square clear glass bottle, with pewter screw-on cap, empty

Small square clear glass bottle

Small square clear glass bottle, with pewter screw-on cap, empty

Measurements:
height 75 mm
length 30 mm
width 30 mm
Materials:
glass and pewter
Object Number:
A129169 Pt4
type:
bottles
Larger square clear glass bottle, with pewter screw-on cap, empty. Inscription reads,' Polvere/di/Pioccasecca'.

Larger square clear glass bottle

Larger square clear glass bottle, with pewter screw-on cap, empty. Inscription reads,' Polvere/di/Pioccasecca'.

Measurements:
height 96 mm
length 41 mm
width 41 mm
Materials:
glass and pewter
Object Number:
A129169 Pt5
type:
bottles
Larger square clear glass bottle with pewter screw-on cap, empty

Larger square clear glass bottle with pewter screw-on cap

Larger square clear glass bottle with pewter screw-on cap, empty

Measurements:
height 92 mm
length 41 mm
width 41 mm
Materials:
glass and pewter
Object Number:
A129169 Pt6
type:
bottles
Larger square clear glass bottle with pewter screw-on cap, empty, for Cinnamon Spirit

Larger square clear glass bottle with pewter screw-on cap

Larger square clear glass bottle with pewter screw-on cap, empty, for Cinnamon Spirit

Measurements:
height 92 mm
length 41 mm
width 41 mm
Materials:
glass and pewter
Object Number:
A129169 Pt7
type:
bottles
Cylindrical pewter canister with screw-on top. Inscription reads, 'Coruoto di Galeno'

Cylindrical pewter canister with screw-on top. Inscription reads

Cylindrical pewter canister with screw-on top. Inscription reads, 'Coruoto di Galeno'

Measurements:
height 61 mm
max: diameter 33 mm
Materials:
pewter
Object Number:
A129169 Pt8
type:
canisters
Small pewter canister with screw-on cap, very poor condition with top part cracked. Inscription reads, 'Balsamo di S. Genovefu'

Small pewter canister with screw-on cap

Small pewter canister with screw-on cap, very poor condition with top part cracked. Inscription reads, 'Balsamo di S. Genovefu'

Measurements:
height 59 mm
max: diameter 34 mm
Materials:
pewter
Object Number:
A129169 Pt9
type:
canisters
Octagonal clear glass bottle with paper covered stopper and metal cover, full of 'Liquore Anodino' (contains morphine). 63 mm x 28 mm x 28 mm, 60g. Unknown maker, Italian, 1750-1850.

Bottle of 'Liquore Anodino'

Octagonal clear glass bottle with paper covered stopper and metal cover, full of 'Liquore Anodino' (contains morphine). 63 mm x 28 mm x 28 mm, 60g. Unknown maker, Italian, 1750-1850.

Measurements:
overall: 63 mm x 28 mm x 28 mm, 60g
Materials:
complete , glass , paper , string , metal and morphine
Object Number:
A129169 Pt10
type:
bottle and morphine
Small pewter canister with cap containing a solid mass of 'Teriaca de Venezia' or Venice Theriac, which contains opium. 61 mm x 35 mm diameter, 93 g. Unknown maker, Italian, 1750-1850.

Pewter container of Venice Theriac

Small pewter canister with cap containing a solid mass of 'Teriaca de Venezia' or Venice Theriac, which contains opium. 61 mm x 35 mm diameter, 93 g. Unknown maker, Italian, 1750-1850.

Measurements:
overall: 61 mm 35 mm, 93g
Materials:
complete , opium and pewter
Object Number:
A129169 Pt11
type:
canister and opium
Small square, clear glass bottle with pewter screw-on top, contains white powder (Potassium Carbonate)

Small square

Small square, clear glass bottle with pewter screw-on top, contains white powder (Potassium Carbonate)

Measurements:
height 77 mm
width 30 mm
depth 30 mm
Materials:
glass and pewter
Object Number:
A129169 Pt12
type:
bottles
Small brown glass bottle with screw-on pewter cap, concave sides for 'Laudano liquido', containing traces of the original contents. 76 mm x 30 mm x 30 mm, 56g. Unknown maker, Italian, 1750-1850.

Bottle of Laudanum

Small brown glass bottle with screw-on pewter cap, concave sides for 'Laudano liquido', containing traces of the original contents. 76 mm x 30 mm x 30 mm, 56g. Unknown maker, Italian, 1750-1850.

Measurements:
overall: 76 mm x 30 mm x 30 mm, 56g
Materials:
trace , opium tincture , glass and pewter
Object Number:
A129169 Pt13
type:
bottle and opium
Small square, clear glass bottle with screw-on pewter cap contains yellow waxy substance

Small square

Small square, clear glass bottle with screw-on pewter cap contains yellow waxy substance

Measurements:
height 78 mm
length 30 mm
width 30 mm
Materials:
glass and pewter
Object Number:
A129169 Pt14
type:
bottles
Small square clear glass bottle with screw-on pewter cap, contains remains of dark brown liquid, called 'Stomach Elixir'

Glass bottle of 'Stomach Elixir'

Small square clear glass bottle with screw-on pewter cap, contains remains of dark brown liquid, called 'Stomach Elixir'

Measurements:
height 75 mm
length 30 mm
width 30 mm
Materials:
glass and pewter
Object Number:
A129169 Pt15
type:
bottles
Small metal measure, small circular foot, flares out at sides, likely to measure medicine

Small metal measure

Small metal measure, small circular foot, flares out at sides, likely to measure medicine

Measurements:
height 30 mm
rim: diameter 33 mm
base: diameter 19 mm
Materials:
metal
Object Number:
A129169 Pt16
type:
medicine measures
Unknown type of metal, rectangular box containing opium seeds.

phial; controlled drug; opium

Unknown type of metal, rectangular box containing opium seeds.

Measurements:
length 64 mm
width 16 mm
depth 13 mm
Materials:
metal
Object Number:
A129169 Pt17
type:
phial and opium
Square metal box with lid, divided into 4, each quarter contains a different ointment for poltices

Square metal box with lid

Square metal box with lid, divided into 4, each quarter contains a different ointment for poltices

Measurements:
length 60 mm
width 59 mm
depth 13 mm
Materials:
metal
Object Number:
A129169 Pt18
type:
boxes
Small metal palette knife, with flat blade with rounded end, decorated handle

Small metal palette knife

Small metal palette knife, with flat blade with rounded end, decorated handle

Measurements:
length 146 mm
max: width 11 mm
Materials:
metal
Object Number:
A129169 Pt19
type:
palette knives
Rectangular paper packet with folded ends, contains a sheet of black plaster

Rectangular paper packet with folded ends

Rectangular paper packet with folded ends, contains a sheet of black plaster

Measurements:
length 98 mm
width 56 mm
Materials:
paper and plaster
Object Number:
A129169 Pt20
type:
packets
Rectangular paper packet with folded ends, contains a sheet of gold beater's skin

Rectangular paper packet with folded ends

Rectangular paper packet with folded ends, contains a sheet of gold beater's skin

Measurements:
length 100 mm
width 58 mm
Materials:
paper and plaster
Object Number:
A129169 Pt21
type:
packets
Single sheet of paper printed with inscription extolling the virtues of a certain type of elixir made in Italy, folded and kept in largest drawer

Paper extolling the virtues of a certain type of elixir

Single sheet of paper printed with inscription extolling the virtues of a certain type of elixir made in Italy, folded and kept in largest drawer

Measurements:
length 225 mm
width 135 mm
Materials:
paper
Object Number:
A129169 Pt22
type:
advertisements
Single sheet of paper printed with inscription advertising a type of balsam for arteries ( ?)

Advertisement for a type of balsam for arteries

Single sheet of paper printed with inscription advertising a type of balsam for arteries ( ?)

Measurements:
length 300 mm
width 230 mm
Materials:
paper
Object Number:
A129169 Pt23
type:
advertisements
Rectangular wooden medicine chest case with hinged lid and 2 hinged swing fronts. Metal band with large carrying handle (without contents see other parts), Italian, 1750-1850

Rectangular wooden medicine chest case with hinged lid and 2 hinged swing fronts

Rectangular wooden medicine chest case with hinged lid and 2 hinged swing fronts. Metal band with large carrying handle (without contents see other parts), Italian, 1750-1850

Measurements:
length 187 mm
width 187 mm
depth 180 mm
Materials:
felt , metal (unknown) , velvet and wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
A129169 Pt24
type:
case

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