'Tabloid' medicine chest used on Dr Hamilton Rice's Amazonian Expedition in 1919, England, 1900-1919

Made:
1900-1919 in London
maker:
Burroughs Wellcome and Company Limited
`Tabloid' metal medicine chest in metal case `Tabloid' metal medicine chest in metal case

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`Tabloid' metal medicine chest in metal case
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

`Tabloid' metal medicine chest in metal case
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

`Tabloid' metal medicine chest in metal case, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co, used by Dr Hamilton Rice's Fifth Amazonian Expedition in 1919

This chest was carried by Alexander Hamilton Rice (1875-1956), an American explorer, during his Fifth Amazonian Expedition in 1919. The chest contains quinine products to treat malaria, Aspirin, sleeping tablets, bandages, syringes and opium pain killers. Opium is an addictive drug made from poppies. Rice began exploring the Amazon Basin in South America in 1907 and mapped a large number of previously unknown rivers in the north-western area of the basin. He carried out seven expeditions in all, the last in 1924-1925.

‘Tabloid’ medicine chests made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co were given to influential people and explorers in a shrewd attempt to advertise the product. The tradename ‘tabloid’ referred to the compressed nature of the drugs and the name lives on today in the world of daily newspapers.

Details

Category:
Materia Medica & Pharmacology
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A700005
Materials:
case, aluminium, inner case, wood, containers, glass, containers, gutta-percha and containers, cotton
Measurements:
overall: 230 mm x 400 mm x 270 mm, 9.86kg
type:
medicine chest

Parts

Bottle of Paregoric tablets

Bottle of Paregoric tablets

Square guetta percha bottle of `Tabloid' brand Paregoric tablets (camphorated tincture of opium), opium 1/48gr. 115 mm x 40 mm x 40 mm, 57g. Burroughs Wellcome and Co., London, 1900-1919.

Measurements:
overall: 115 mm x 40 mm x 40 mm, 57g
Materials:
complete , guetta percha , camphor and opium tincture
Object Number:
A700005 Pt7
type:
opium and bottle
Guetta percha bottle of Ipecac and Squill tablets

Guetta percha bottle of Ipecac and Squill tablets

Square guetta percha bottle of `Tabloid' brand Ipecac with Squill tablets with opium, 1/5gr. 115 mm x 38 mm x 38 mm, 118g. Burroughs Wellcome and Co., London, used in 1919.

Measurements:
overall: 115 mm x 38 mm x 38 mm, 118g
Materials:
complete , guetta percha , opium and ipecac
Object Number:
A700005 Pt10
type:
opium and bottle
Bottlw of 'Warburg Tincture' tablets

Bottlw of 'Warburg Tincture' tablets

Square bakelite bottle of `Tabloid' brand `Warburg Tincture' tablets (quinine and opium). 120 mm x 40 mm x 35 mm, 90g. Printed label reads,' Burroughs Wellcome & Co./ TABLOID brand/ WARBURG TINCTURE/.../Direction- The bowels having been/ freely opened, four to eight may be taken. with a draught of warm spirit and water, and/ the dose repeated in three or four hours.../As this preparation contains ...

Measurements:
overall: 120 mm x 40 mm x 35 mm, 90g
Materials:
opium , quinine , bakelite and half-full
Object Number:
A700005 Pt11
type:
bottle and opium
Bottle of Chloroform and morphine tincture

Bottle of Chloroform and morphine tincture

Square glass bottle of Chloroform and Morphine tincture in a leather covering. 120 mm x 40 mm x 35 mm, 176g. Faded inscription reads, 'TR. CHLORO (illegible) MORPH Co.' Burroughs Wellcome, London, 1900-1919.

Measurements:
overall: 120 mm x 40 mm x 35 mm, 176g
Materials:
glass , leather , morphine , chloroform and complete
Object Number:
A700005 Pt12
type:
bottle and morphine
bottle; controlled drug; opium

bottle; controlled drug; opium

Bakelite, square based bottle with bakelite stopper covered in chamois leather. Paper label around bottle. To contain Tabloid brand of Opium and Lead pills. Believed to have been administered to relieve intestinal pain.

Object Number:
A700005 Pt18
type:
bottle and opium
Bakelite bottle of Aromatic chalk powder with opium

Bakelite bottle of Aromatic chalk powder with opium

Square bakelite bottle of `Tabloid' brand Aromatic chalk powder with opium tablets, opium 1/8 gr. 120 mm x 40 mm x 40 mm, 64g. Printed label reads, 'Burroughs Wellcome & Co./ Tabloid Brand/ Aromatic Chalk Powder/ with Opium/ (Pulv. Cretae Aromat. cum Opio)/ OPIUM, GR. 1/8/ in each product of/ gr. 5...'. Manufactured by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., London, used in 1919.

Measurements:
overall: 120 mm x 40 mm x 40 mm, 64g
Materials:
half-full , bakelite and opium
Object Number:
A700005 Pt37
type:
opium
canister; controlled drug; opium

canister; controlled drug; opium

Bakelite, circle based canister with bakelite screw cap. Paper label around body of canister. To contain Soloid brand of Opium and Lead pills. These tablets are formulated to be mixed with 1 ounce of hot water (per tablet) and shaken to make a of lead and opium (lotio plumbi et opii). This is used as a soothing and astringent lotion for burns and bruises.

Object Number:
A700005 Pt41
type:
canister and opium
canister; controlled drug; opium

canister; controlled drug; opium

Bakelite, circle based canister with bakelite screw cap. Paper label around body of canister. To contain Tabloid brand of Opium tablets. Complete contents.

Object Number:
A700005 Pt53
type:
canister and opium
Bakelite tube of Kino compound

Bakelite tube of Kino compound

Cylindrical bakelite container of `Tabloid' brand Kino compound (opium), 21.5gr. per oz. 90 mm x 23 mm diameter, 32g. Printed label reads, 'Burroughs Wellcome & Co./ Tabloid brand/ KINO COMPOUND/ POWDER, N.F./ (Opium, Gr. 21 1/2 per oz.)/.../gr. 5...'. Burroughs Wellcome and Co., London, used in 1919.

Measurements:
overall: 90 mm 23 mm, 32g
Materials:
bakelite , opium and complete
Object Number:
A700005 Pt55
type:
opium and tube
Bakelite tube of Asafetida and Opium compound

Bakelite tube of Asafetida and Opium compound

Cylindrical bakelite container of `Tabloid' brand Asafetida and Opium compound. 90 mmx 20 mm diameter, 32g. Printed label reads, 'Burroughs Wellcome & Co./ Tabloid brand/ ASAFETIDA & OPIUM/ COMPOUND/ (Opium, Gr. 95 per OUNCE)/...'. Burroughs, Wellcome and Co., London, used in 1919

Measurements:
overall: 90 mm 20 mm, 32g
Materials:
bakelite , opium , asafetida and complete
Object Number:
A700005 Pt61
type:
tube and opium