These objects tell the story of government and campaigning efforts to improve public health, notably through vaccination, as well as through the everyday items we use to maintain or improve personal hygiene.
Public Health & Hygiene
1999
"Microban" washing up liquid containing antibacterial agent. Produced for Sainsbury's supermarkets as part of a wide range of products.
1701-1800
Ivory powder bottle used by wig dresser, globular body, screw on base, probably English, 18th century
1801-1900
Barber's shaving bowl, zinc, by J. Charles, Paris, 19th century
1874-1900
Mallam's vaccinator, cased, patented and manufactured by Arnold and Sons, London, 1874-1900
1771-1850
Circular pewter spittoon with removable funnel-shaped lid, English, 1771-1850
Gillette "Mach 3" razor, with two blade cartridges and razor stand, on display card, 1999.
Barber's shaving bowl, tin glazed earthenware, glazed motto, German, 19th century
1875-1925
Barber's shaving bowl, tin glazed earthenware, French, 1875-1925
1980
Vial containing dried smallpox vaccine. Label reads: 'Single dose / Not to be injected, Dried Smallpox Vaccine...' Part of a packet of dried smallpox vaccine B.P. (Ovine), by Swiss Serum and Vaccine Institute for Department of Health and Social Security, (DHSS), 1980
1994-1995
Combined hypothermia thermometer and advice card, produced by Eastern Electricity for their elderly customers, London, England, 1994-1995.
1750-1890
Pewter bedpan, round, with round rim and straight handle, made by Deverres of Caen, French, 1750-1890
1740-1760
Earthenware bottle-shaped male urinal with polychrome decoration, Dutch, 1740-1760
1873
Packet of 50 vaccination points, for smallpox vaccination No.48, supplied by the Government Lymph Establishment, London, and used at Liverpool Station, London, Dec 4th 1873.
1914-1918
Anti-mosquito spray gun, metal, by R. Sumner and Co. of Liverpool, 1914-1918
1822-1875
Triple-bladed, vaccination lancet, steel and ivory, by Millikin of London, 1822-1900
1751-1850
Child's rocking chair commode, 1751-1850
1701-1730
Glass, bottle shaped female urinal, 1701-1730
1950-1980
Selection of 8 enamel blood-group identity pins/badges, unsigned, United Kingdom, 1950-1980. Blood types include A-, A+, AB-, AB+, B-, B+, O-, O+ (see note).
1965-1969
Poster, with drugs awareness message, with illustration of four young people and the words 'Normal people don't need drugs', produced by the Central Council for Health Education, London, England, c1965-1969
1921
2 thorns mounted on cardboard with photograph and information about their use by medicine men in smallpox epidemic to vaccinate patients in Dawaimeh, Palestine, 1921
1918-1929
Bottle-shaped earthenware female urinal, by Maw, Son and Sons Ltd., London, England, 1880-1940
1971-1975
One of two posters with an anti-smoking message, featuring the 1970s pop star Marc Bolan grimacing and the slogan 'If Marc Bolan kissed you would he feel like this?', produced for the Health Education Council, London, England, c.1971-1975
1935-1945
One of four cakes of soap (A631019) by Charles Midgeley, Manchester, c. 1940
Packet of 36 vaccination points for smallpox vaccination No.387, supplied by the Government Lymph Establishment, London, and used at Pimlico Station, London, Dec 4th 1873.
Instruction leaflet for dried smallpox vaccine B.P. (Ovine), single dose of Lancy-Vaxina for use with scratch technique, by Swiss Serum and Vaccine Institute for Department of Health and Social Security, (DHSS), 1980
2005
'Olyset' mosquito net, impregnated with Permethrin insecticide and classified as a Long Lasting Insecticidal Net (LLIN) approved for use by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Mass-manufactured for distribution as part of the international anti-malaria campaign, particularly focussed on Africa, developed by Sumitomo Chemicals Co. Ltd. (Japan), in partnership with the World Health Organisation, c2005.
1970-1975
Sixteen genetic teaching dolls, made from wooden clothes pegs and fabric, used to illustrate the presence of the disease Haemophilia over three generations of individuals, made by Miss E.M.Harris, England, 1970-1975
1775-1850
Circular, cream, Leeds ware, spttoon, with flared rim, English, 1775-1850
1975-1985
Health Education model used in Nepal for teaching the means of infection in tuberculosis and the necessity of maintaining the course of medication, made for Models for Rural Development, London, ca. 1982.
Bamboo flea trap, Chinese, 1751-1850
Vaccination lancet, belonging to Jenner
1988
Sample of final synthetic malaria vaccine SPf66, developed by Dr Patarroyo and collaborators as a synthetic vaccine for malaria, Bogota, Colombia, as used in the first Colombian trials on military volunteers, 1988. (Nature, March 10, 1988, vol 332)
1701-1900
Tongue scraper, silver, probably British, 18th or 19th century
1990-1995
Prefilled syringe in orange bubble packing, containing sample of synthetic peptide vaccine SPf66, developed by Dr. Manuel Elkin Patarroyo and collaborators as a synthetic vaccine for malaria, Bogota, Colombia, used in its first field trial outside Latin America in Tanzania, 1990-95.
1994
Selection of nine of 10 perforated plastic packages of poliomyelitis vaccine live (oral), BP with instructions. Trivalent human diploid by The Wellcome Foundation Limited, London, supplied by Evans Medical Limited, Leatherhead, England, 1994. Supplied in individual sealed plastic tubes for oral administration (see note).
Packet of 30 vaccination points for smallpox vaccination No.954, supplied by the Government Lymph Establishment, London, and used at Blackfriars Station, London, Dec 2nd 1873.
1979
One of two packets of dried smallpox vaccine, each containing one ampoule of 25 doses, by the Lister Institute, Elstree, England, 1979
1850-1875
`Mason's IXL Sanitary ware' stoneware self-flushing gutter fixture by Mason, England, 1850-1875
1821-1850
Pastille burner in shape of house, c. 1821-1850.
Packet of 39 vaccination points used for smallpox vaccination No.7, supplied by the governmnGt Lymph Etablishment, London, and used at Tottenham Court Chapel Station, London, Dec 3 1873.
Copper gilt barber's shaving bowl, North African, 1801-1900
1867-1904
Danchell patent water testing apparatus, in case, made by London and General Water Purifying Co., English, 1867-1904
One wooden floor slat/duckboard, used in a public bathhouse (10 holes in solid top)
Breathalyser, comprising 5 sample tubes and plastic bag, in plastic casing, by Draeger Safety Ltd, Blyth, Northumberland, 1979 TEST
1920-1950
Brush with shortened wooden handle, used for bathing in public bathhouse
1750-1850
Razor, cutthroat, steel and ebony, illegible marks on blade and handle, 1750-1850
Barber's shaving bowl, tin glazed earthenware, animal motif, Dutch, 18th century
1978
East Mark 6 tuberculin test gun, aluminium, by East, Oxford, 1978
1894-1918
Two cuff links, gold, showing plague bacillus, perhaps by Faberge, c. 1900
1956
Ampoule of calf vaccine lymph in original carton by the Jenner Institute for Calf Lymph, Ltd., 73, 75 and 77, Battersea, Church Rd SW11, English, 1956
