Medical kit used by Ernest Shackleton

Made:
1907 in London England and London
maker:
Burroughs Wellcome and Company Limited
Two objects from British expeditions to the Antarctic

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Two objects from British expeditions to the Antarctic
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Field medical kit in leather wallet, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., England, used by Sir Ernest Shackleton, 1907

This kit was 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. Inside the leather wallet 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. It is shown here with a 'Tabloid' medicine chest used on the 1910 British Antarctic Expedition (A700020).

Details

Category:
Emergency Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A700031
Materials:
case, leather
Measurements:
overall: 190 mm x 110 mm x 86 mm,
type:
medical emergency kit
credit:
Loan, Wellcome Trust

Parts

Hazeline cream from Shackleton's medical kit

Hazeline cream from Shackleton's medical kit

Tube of 'Hazeline' cream, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co, England, from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medical kit, 1907

Materials:
tube, metal
Object Number:
A700031 Pt2
type:
tubes
Plaster from Shackleton's medical kit

Plaster from Shackleton's medical kit

Paper envelope containing adhesive plaster, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co, England, from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medical kit, 1907

Materials:
envelope, paper
Object Number:
A700031 Pt3
type:
envelopes
Plaster from Shackleton's medical kit

Plaster from Shackleton's medical kit

Paper envelope containing court plaster, from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medical kit, 1907

Materials:
envelope, paper
Object Number:
A700031 Pt4
type:
envelopes and court plaster
Safety pins from Shackleton's medical kit

Safety pins from Shackleton's medical kit

Paper envelope containing safety pins, from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medical kit, 1907

Materials:
envelope, paper
Object Number:
A700031 Pt5
type:
envelope and safety pins
Bandage from Shackleton's medical kit

Bandage from Shackleton's medical kit

Lint bandage, from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medical kit, 1907

Materials:
cotton
Object Number:
A700031 Pt6
type:
bandages
Sulphonal tablets container from Shackleton's medical kit

Sulphonal tablets container from Shackleton's medical kit

Plastic tube for sulphonal tablets, empty, by Burroughs Wellcome, England, from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medical kit, 1907

Materials:
tube, plastic
Object Number:
A700031 Pt7
type:
tubes
Bakelite tube of Paregoric tablets

Bakelite tube of Paregoric tablets

Bakelite tube for Tabloid brand Paregoric tablets with traces remaining. 90 mmx 19 mm diameter, 20g. Printed label reads, 'Burroughs Wellcome & Co./ TABLOID brand/ Paregoric/ one represents/ min. 15.../ of Compound Tincture of Camphor, B.P./...As this preparation contains Opium in/small medicinal doeses, it is labelled POISON...'. By Burroughs Wellcome, English, 1907.

Measurements:
overall: 90 mm 19 mm, 20g
Materials:
trace , bakelite and opium
Object Number:
A700031 Pt8
type:
tube and opium
Iron and arsenic compound tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Iron and arsenic compound tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Plastic tube of iron and arsenic compound tablets, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co, England, from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medicine kit, 1907

Materials:
tube, plastic and contents, tablets, brown
Object Number:
A700031 Pt9
type:
tubes
Quinine tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Quinine tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Plastic tube of quinine bisulphate tablets by Burroughs Wellcome and Co, England from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medical kit, 1907

Materials:
tube, plastic and contents, tablets, white
Object Number:
A700031 Pt10
type:
tubes
Soda mint tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Soda mint tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Plastic tube of soda mint tablets by Burroughs Wellcome and Co, England, from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medical kit, 1907

Materials:
plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
A700031 Pt11
type:
tubes
Bakelite tube of Aromatic Powder with Opium

Bakelite tube of Aromatic Powder with Opium

Bakelite tube for Tabloid brand aromatic chalk powder with opium tablets with traces remaining. 90 mmx 20 mm diameter, 20g. Printed label reads, 'Burroughs Wellcome & Co./ TABLOID brand/ Aromatic Chalk with Opium/ (Pulv. Cretae Aromatic cum Opio, P.B.)/ COMPRESSED/ gr. 5...' By Burroughs Wellcome, English, 1907.

Measurements:
overall: 90 mm 20 mm, 20g
Materials:
bakelite , opium and trace
Object Number:
A700031 Pt12
type:
tube and opium
Phenacetin tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Phenacetin tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Plastic tube of phenacetin compound tablets, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co, England, from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medical kit, 1907

Materials:
as part 10
Object Number:
A700031 Pt13
type:
tubes
Potassium chlorate tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Potassium chlorate tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Plastic tube of potassium chlorate tablets, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co, England, from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medical kit, 1907

Materials:
as part 10
Object Number:
A700031 Pt14
type:
tubes
Sodium salicylate tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Sodium salicylate tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Plastic tube of sodium salicylate tablets by Burroughs Wellcome and Co, England, from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medical kit, 1907

Materials:
plastic (unidentified
Object Number:
A700031 Pt15
type:
tubes
Ammonium bromide tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Ammonium bromide tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Plastic tube of ammonium bromide tablets, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co, England, from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medical kit, 1907

Materials:
plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
A700031 Pt16
type:
tubes
Cascara sagrada tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Cascara sagrada tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Plastic tube of cascara sagrada tablets, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co, England, from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medical kit, 1907

Materials:
tube, plastic and contents, tablets, black
Object Number:
A700031 Pt17
type:
tubes
Bismuth and soda tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Bismuth and soda tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Plastic tube of bismuth and soda tablets by Burroughs Wellcome and Co, England, from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medical kit, 1907

Materials:
plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
A700031 Pt18
type:
tubes
Ginger essence tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Ginger essence tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Plastic tube of ginger essence tablets, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co, England, from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medical kit, 1907

Materials:
plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
A700031 Pt19
type:
tubes
Bakelite tube for chlorodyne

Bakelite tube for chlorodyne

Cylindrical bakelite tube for Compound Tincture of Chloroform and Morphine (chlorodyne) with traces remaining. 90 mm x 19 mm, 19g. Printed label reads, 'Burroughs Wellcome & Co./ SHAKE THE BOTTLE/ COMPOUND TINCTURE/ of/ CHLOROFORM and MORPHINE/ (chlorodyne)/ POISON/Direction.- For an adult, from five to/ ten minims may be taken in a wineglassful of/water...' By Burroughs Wellcome, English, 1907.

Measurements:
overall: 90 mm 19 mm, 19g
Materials:
bakelite , morphine hydrochloride , chloroform and trace
Object Number:
A700031 Pt20
type:
tube , morphine and chloroform
Boric acid tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Boric acid tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Plastic tube of boric acid tablets, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co, England, from Sir Ernest Shackleton's medical kit, 1907

Materials:
plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
A700031 Pt21
type:
tubes
Zinc sulphate tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Zinc sulphate tablets from Shackleton's medical kit

Plastic tube of zinc sulphate tablets, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co, England, used by Sir Ernest Shackelton, 1907

Materials:
plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
A700031 Pt22
type:
tubes
Leather wallet for field medical kit

Leather wallet for field medical kit

Leather wallet for field medical kit, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co, England, used by Sir Ernest Shackelton, 1907

Materials:
leather
Object Number:
A700031 Pt23
type:
wallet