'Pills & Tablets' box, London, England, 1916

Tin box for medicine bottles Tin box for medicine bottles

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Tin box for medicine bottles
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Tin box for medicine bottles
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Tin box for medicine bottles, probably from WWI British Military pattern medicine or First Aid chest, by Burgoyne Burbidges & Co, 1916

This tin box was probably part of a much larger first aid kit or medicine chest used during the First World War. The drugs in the box include opium for pain relief, quinine hydrochloride for malaria, and calomel with colocynth. Both calomel and colocynth have antiseptic qualities but when taken together they purge the body by causing vomiting. Calomel is also a drug associated with the treatment of the venereal disease syphilis – a major problem during the First World War.

Details

Category:
Emergency Medicine
Object Number:
1995-799
Materials:
case, metal and containers, plastic
Measurements:
overall: 37 mm x 128 mm x 176 mm, .59kg
type:
medicine chest

Parts

Metal case

Metal case

Metal case, with hinged lid lined with paper list of contents

Object Number:
1995-799 Pt1
type:
case
Square plastic bottle

Square plastic bottle

Square plastic bottle, for Phenacetin compound, empty, by Burgoyne Burbridges and Co.

Object Number:
1995-799 Pt2
type:
bottles
Square plastic bottle

Square plastic bottle

Square plastic bottle, label unreadable, probably for Ipecacuanha, empty, by Burgoyne Burbidges and Co.

Object Number:
1995-799 Pt3
type:
bottles
Square plastic bottle

Square plastic bottle

Square plastic bottle, label unreadable, empty, by Burgoyne Burbidges and Co.

Object Number:
1995-799 Pt4
type:
bottles
Square plastic bottle

Square plastic bottle

Square plastic bottle, for Quinine Hydrochloride, empty, by Burgoyne Burbidges and Co.

Object Number:
1995-799 Pt5
type:
bottles
Square plastic bottle

Square plastic bottle

Square plastic bottle, for Quinine Hydrochloride, empty, by Burgoyne Burbidges and Co.

Object Number:
1995-799 Pt6
type:
bottles
Square plastic bottle

Square plastic bottle

Square plastic bottle, for Quinine Hydrochloride, empty, by Burgoyne Burbidges and Co.

Object Number:
1995-799 Pt7
type:
bottles
Square plastic bottle for opium with traces remaining

Square plastic bottle for opium with traces remaining

Square plastic bottle for Opium with traces remaining. 30 mm x 45 mm x 30 mm, 23g. Printed label reads, '...300 Pill (no.4)/ PULV. OPII. gr.1/...' Produced by Burgoyne Burbidges and Co., London, 1916.

Measurements:
overall: 30 mm x 45 mm x 30 mm, 23g
Materials:
plastic , opium and trace
Object Number:
1995-799 Pt8
type:
bottle and opium
Square plastic bottle for Opium and capsicum

Square plastic bottle for Opium and capsicum

Black square plastic bottle, for Opium and capsicum with trace residues remaining. 30 mm x 50 mm x 30 mm, 21g. Printed label reads, '.../50 Pill (No.3)/ R. Pulv. Opii. Pulv. Capisi/ Camphorae (illegible)/ Pulv. Piper Nig./ aa. gr. 1/2/ POISON/...' Produced by Burgoyne Burbidges and Co., London, 1916.

Measurements:
overall: 30 mm x 50 mm x 30 mm, 21g
Materials:
plastic , opium , capsicum and trace
Object Number:
1995-799 Pt9
type:
bottle and opium
Square plastic bottle

Square plastic bottle

Square plastic bottle, label unreadable, empty, by Burgoyne Burbidges and Co.

Object Number:
1995-799 Pt10
type:
bottles
Square plastic bottle

Square plastic bottle

Square plastic bottle, for Calomel and Colocynth, empty, by Burgoyne Burbidges and Co.

Object Number:
1995-799 Pt11
type:
bottles
Square plastic bottle for Lead and Opium

Square plastic bottle for Lead and Opium

Black square plastic bottle, for Lead and Opium, with traces remaining. 30 mm x 50 mm x 30 mm, 22g. Printed label reads,' ...50/ Pill (No.1)/ Pil. Plumbi c Opio/ gr 5/ POISON...' Produced by Burgoyne Burbidges and Co., London, 1916.

Measurements:
overall: 30 mm x 50 mm x 30 mm, 22g
Materials:
trace , plastic , opium and lead
Object Number:
1995-799 Pt12
type:
opium and bottle