Medical kit used by Ernest Shackleton

This thermometer was part of the kit used by Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922), a British explorer, during his 1907-1909 expedition to the Antarctic, which was his first attempt to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively.

Also inside the kit bandages, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and cascara sagrada tablets (laxatives). Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

'Hazeline' cream was one of Burroughs Wellcome and Co's earliest products. its key ingredient was from the bark of the Hamamelis Virginica, a scrub also known as Virigian witch hazel. Originally used for burns, brusies, scratches and bleeding, Hazeline was later re-branded as a cosmetic.

During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Also included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and cascara sagrada tablets (laxatives). Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Also included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and cascara sagrada tablets (laxatives). Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

A court plaster is a plaster made from materials like silk with additional substances such as isinglass, a type of collagen.

During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Also included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and cascara sagrada tablets (laxatives). Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

Still sealed in their envleope, it is likely these safety pins were not needed to secure bandages or for first aid. During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Also included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and cascara sagrada tablets (laxatives). Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

Lint bandages are often used to apply to wounds and are absorbent for any bleeding. During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Also included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and cascara sagrada tablets (laxatives). Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

Sulphonal was a hypnotic medicine, used to induce sleep but could take unexpectedly long to take effect. Prolonged use ot the drug could cause side effects to the stomach and kidneys and could be addictive.

During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Also included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and cascara sagrada tablets (laxatives). Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

Quinine is more commonly associated as a treatment for malaria but was also used for fevers more generally. However, continued research has shown that quinine kills the parasite responsible for malaria, tackling the cause of the illness rather than the symptons, which include high temperatures and fevers.

During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Also included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and cascara sagrada tablets (laxatives). Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

Soda mint was uses as an antacid and to treat flatuence. It is also known as sodium bicarbonate. During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Also included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and cascara sagrada tablets (laxatives). Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

First introduced in 1887, phenacetin was a painkiller and fever reducing medicine. It was one of the first synthetic medicines, being produced purely in a laboratory rather than drawing on the natural world. Painkillers tended to be opium based, with addictive qualities. Phenacetin remained in use for nearly 100 years, when it was withdrawn due to unacceptable side effects.

During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Also included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and cascara sagrada tablets (laxatives). Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

Sodium salicylate is used as a pain and fever medicine. It can have side effects of nausea, stomach cramps and swelling. Made as a salt of salicylic acid, it is similar in chemical structure to aspirin.

During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Also included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and cascara sagrada tablets (laxatives). Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

Ammonium bromide was used as a general sedative, inducing sleep and slowing the activity of the central nervous system.

During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Also included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and cascara sagrada tablets (laxatives). Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

Cascara sagrada is a laxative, derived from the bark of a North American shrub. During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Also included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and ginger essense. Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

Bismuth and soda were used for the treatmet of hearburn and indigestion. During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Also included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and ginger essense. Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

Ginger essense was used for indgiestion and relieving flatuence. During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Also included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and ginger essense. Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

Boric acid was used as a mild antiseptic for burns and wounds. Tablets could be made into a solution and used to clean wounds. During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Also included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and ginger essense. Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

Zinc sulphate was used as an astringent to relieve irritation, particularly caused by diarrhoea or dysentry or by gonorrhoea. With tablets dissolved in water, it caused vomiting, when stomach contents needed to be empty quickly.

During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Also included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and ginger essense. Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.

During 1907-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) and his team, attempted to locate the South Pole. Although he was unsuccessful, he did map some of the area extensively. Included in the kit are bandages, a thermometer, plasters, safety pins and medical treatments of the day, including soda mint and ginger essense. Also paregoric tablets, a pain reliever made from an alcoholic preparation of opium.

Medical equipment, first aid kits and medicine chests like this one were made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co and given to influential people and explorers in an attempt to advertise the product.