A mahogany medicine chest, England, 1801-1900
Diane Morris | Wednesday, May 18th, 2016 | | No Comments
A mahogany medicine chest, England, 1801-1900 The mahogany medicine chest contains boxes, bottles and tubes of medications to treat a number of conditions. The chest includes treatments to purge the body by vomiting (emetics), by sweating (diaphoretics), as well as general purgatives such as rhubarb, jalap and calomel. Other medications include pain relief, such as opium plus astringents and stimulants, including ginger and lavender. The chest contains a handwritten inventory listing the medications. The chest also includes a set of scales, weights, a pill tile and a spatula. The set was probably used in the home or by a chemist or apothecary.
(Source: Science Museum, London, and Wellcome Images CC BY 4.0)
