Box inscribed with: blue vitriol]]>
George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> ʒſs
℈ii
℈i]]>
George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> English]]> George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Part of George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Finest quality and nearly tasteless]]> 19th century mahogany apothecary's box.]]> 19th century mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Sold in bottles at 2s. 9d. and 3s. 6d.
ed on the Government Stamp]]>
  1. Paregoric elixir
  2. Lavender
  3. Turkey rhubarb
  4. Spirit of nitre
  5. Carbonate of soda
  6. Magnesia
  7. Spirit of sal volatile
  8. Spirit of nitre
  9. Jamaica ginger
  10. Tincture of fennel
  11. Ipecacuanha wine
  12. Tincture of bark
  13. Dr James's powder
  14. Bicarbonate of potassium
  15. Dover's powder
]]>

Made of tinplate.]]>

Whilst it is impossible to know exactly when we first started using herbs and plants for medicinal purposes, archaeological evidence suggests that herbs have been used in Scotland since the Bronze age. Indeed the use of herbs as healing remedies goes back to the very beginnings of medicine itself, from 3700 B.C. Egypt, followed by the Chinese and later the Greeks and Romans. The earliest written account of herbal remedies comes from China and dates back to 2800 B.C.

In Scotland there has been a long held tradition of herbal folk medicine. However, written accounts of commonly used remedies did not appear until very much more recent times, knowledge of plants having been initially passed from generation to generation by word of mouth. Particularly in the more remote areas of Scotland, folk medicine was handed down by tradition, with little change, until the 17th Century. Opportunities for medical education were limited, and means of transport extremely bad, making it difficult for medical practitioners to reach patients out with the principal towns. As a result many had to rely to a great extent upon remedies which were available locally.

The provenance is unknown for the College’s 18th century herbal but it is believed to come from lowland Scotland. It was digitised courtesy of the Scottish Archive Network and is an excellent example of the way in which the remedies, previously passed from generation to generation as an oral tradition, began to be collected together in hand-written volumes. Many examples of similar documents can be found within collections of household manuscripts, correspondence and accounts, and it would appear that many households across the social spectrum kept such documents

Many herbals, particularly those belonging to Scottish land-owning families, were very decorative, typically leather bound and often interspersed with ornately decorated pages with drawings and elaborate hand-writing. Individual volumes were often written in different hands with recipes and remedies occasionally being attributed to individuals. Indeed a particular 18th century volume (in the National Library of Scotland) entitled ‘Physick and Cookery of various Kinds’ compiled by Martha Bruce, Countess of Elgin, contains contributions from eminent individuals including Dr Herman Boerhaave’s cure for Chilblains and Asthma and remedies from Dr Ratcliffe, Physician to Queen Anne.

Herbals often contained not only herbal remedies but also recipes and beauty and household remedies, and in later years, the traditional household herbal came to resemble more of a cookery book with sections for herbal remedies being relegated to the back of the volume. The remedies and recipes often remained unchanged with the same herbs and methods being used for centuries.

This particular volume is only a small illustration of the abundance of similar material which can be found in public and private collections of household papers, and provides a small insight into the strong tradition of herbal medicine which has existed in Scotland down the ages.

]]>

Similar to one illustrated in Sotheby's Fine scientific and medical instruments, cameras, weights and measures, 1985, no. 211: a 19th century mahogany medicine chest, the hinged lid enclosing a series of bottle compartments, single fitted drawer with recessed brass handle to base, brass drop handles to either side.]]>
  1. Caster oil
  2. Pale Peruvian bark
  3. Dr Gregory's stomachic powder
  4. Charity oil
  5. Paregoric elixir
  6. Spirit of sal volatile
  7. Antimonial wine
  8. Carbonate of potash
  9. Roche's embrocation for the whooping cough
  10. Blistering plaster
  11. Powder of Jalap
  12. Powder of Ipecacuanha
  13. Calomel
  14. Gray Powder
  15. James's powder
  16. Oil of peppermint
  17. Atropin
  18. Brass weights
  19. Brass scales
]]>

Cachets are used to mask the unpleasant taste of certain medicines. The unfavourable tastes were initially masked in foods, such as bread and jam. This mode of cachet was eventually replaced by thin leaflets made from flour and water.
Cachets made with this machine would have been composed of rice paper. The first disc was placed in one of the circular holders, then powder was then filtered in, and the second disc was sealed on top with the roller, which was moistened with water.
]]>

]]>

This portrait is a copy, made in 1822, of a previous portrait by an artist from the 17th Century Scottish School.]]>

The roller has two sets of wheels, allowing it to roll backwards and forwards over the board. The board and roller are fitted with matching corrugated brass plates.

Pill resin would be rolled into a tube and placed on the corrugated surface of the board. The roller would then be used to push the resin through the grooves of the board, creating individual, consistently sized pills.
]]>

Made by Messrs Oppenheimer, Son & Co, Manufacturing Chemists, 14 Worship Street, LONDON EC (reference dated July 1897), later removed to 179, Queen Victoria Street, LONDON EC (reference dated 1900)]]>
19th century mahogany apothecary's box.]]> John Ellison, dispensing chemist,
73, Church Street, Liverpool]]>
Ellison; John (fl. 1820s-1870s); chemist]]>
19th century mahogany apothecary's box.]]> W.B. Hudson & Son
Chemists and Druggists
27, Hay Market, London]]>
W.B. Hudson & Son; late 19th century; chemist]]>
19th century mahogany apothecary's box.]]> W.B. Hudson & Son
Chemists and Druggists
27, Hay Market, London]]>
W.B. Hudson & Son; late 19th century; chemist]]>
19th century mahogany apothecary's box.]]> W.B. Hudson & Son; late 19th century; chemist]]> 19th century mahogany apothecary's box.]]> This preparation contains in a highly concentrated state, all the valuable medicinal and aromatic properties of the root.
DOSE - One or two tea-spoonfuls in a wine-glassful of water, as occasion requires, or it may be taken in tea, or any other beverage.
Prepared by Thomas M. Deighton,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, by Examination,
From Peter Squire, Chemist to the Queen,
35, High Street, Bridgnorth]]>
Deighton; Thomas Milner (-1901); pharmaceutical chemist]]>
19th century mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Thomas M. Deighton,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, by Examination
Bridgnorth]]>
Deighton; Thomas Milner (-1901); pharmaceutical chemist]]>
19th century mahogany apothecary's box.]]> DOSE - From half to two tea-spoonfuls, in a wine-glassful of water
Prepared by T.M. Deighton, Pharmaceutical Chemist,
From Peter Squire, Chemist to the Queen,
35, High Street, Bridgnorth]]>
Deighton; Thomas Milner (-1901); pharmaceutical chemist]]>
Westlake; Bernard (1876-1899); Chemist]]>
The Scottish Drug Depot Limited, Cash price, Dispensing chemists. Boric ointment, Edinburgh and Leith.]]>
Scottish Drug Depot Limited; 1889-1904]]>

John Jonhston Chemist, 68 East High Street Forfar, Strophanthus tablets m11]]>
Johnston; John (1892-); Chemist]]>

A. H. Hamilton Druggist, 68 High St, Dundee,. Late of Duncan, Hamilton & Dandie, Perth. Calamel & Jalap, 1 part of calamel & jalap.]]>
Hamilton; A. H. (1842-1868); druggist]]>

A. H. Hamilton Druggist, 68 High St, Dundee,. Late of Duncan, Hamilton & Dandie, Perth]]>
Hamilton; A. H. (1842-1868); druggist]]>

A. H. Hamilton Druggist, 68 High St, Dundee,. Late of Duncan, Hamilton & Dandie, Perth]]>
Hamilton; A. H. (1842-1868); druggist]]>
19th century mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Ipecacuanha Wine.
DOSE - Adults, as an Expectorant, five to forty drops; Emetic, three tea-spoonfuls to a table-spoonful and a half.
Children, as an Expectorant, from one to five drops; Emetic, half to three tea-spoonfuls.
Wolverhampton]]>
Fleeming & Son; c. 1860-1880; chemist]]>
19th century mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Spirit of Lavender.
Symes & Co.,
Pharmaceutical Chemists
14, Hardman Street, Liverpool]]>
Symes & Co; c. 1880s-1940s; chemist]]>
19th century mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Alexander Turner
Pharmaceutical chemist,
Buccleuch Street, Dumfries]]>
Turner; Alexander (1862-1935); chemist]]>
19th century mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Deighton & Smith, Pharmaceutical Chemists,
Bridgnorth]]>
Deighton & Smith; late 19th century; chemists]]>
19th century mahogany apothecary's box.]]> of extra strength and purity.
DOSE - a tea-spoonful, in water or Camphor Julep.
Prepared by Deighton & Smith,
Pharmaceutical Chemists,
High Street, Bridgnorth]]>
Deighton & Smith; late 19th century; chemists]]>
19th century mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Thomas M. Deighton
pharmaceutical chemist, by examination
Bridgnorth]]>
Deighton; Thomas Milner (-1901); pharmaceutical chemist]]>
George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Gilchrist; William (19th century); chemist]]> George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Dispensing Family Chemist
Gray Powder]]>
Gilchrist; William (19th century); chemist]]>
George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Dispensing Family Chemist
Calomel]]>
Gilchrist; William (19th century); chemist]]>
George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Druggists.
75 High Street, Perth
Late Duncan & Ogilvie
Powder of Jalap]]>
Duncan, Hamilton & Dandie; c 1830s; druggists]]>
George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Druggists.
75 High Street, Perth
Late Duncan & Ogilvie
Best Oil of Peppermint]]>
Duncan, Hamilton & Dandie; c 1830s; druggists]]>
George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Druggists.
75 High Street, Perth
Late Duncan & Ogilvie
Powder of Ipecacuanha]]>
Duncan, Hamilton & Dandie; c 1830s; druggists]]>
George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> by the King's patent
Value a[bove] [?]
Not exceed[ing]
[Edwar]ds & Son
[Queen V]ictoria St. ]]>
Edwards & Son; c. 1870s-1900s; wholesale chemists]]>
George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> [Drug]gists
Car[bonat]e of potash
[Late Dunc]an & Ogilvie
75 High St
Perth]]>
Duncan & Ogilvie; 1818-1832; druggists]]> Duncan, Dandie & Newby; c. 1841-1853; druggists]]>
George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Antimonial wine
Virginia Street]]>
Glasgow Apothecaries Company; 1805-1919]]>
George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> Spirit sal volatile
3 James' Square, Crieff]]>
Harley; James (fl. 1878-1911); Chemist & Druggist]]>
George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> DOSE - A large tea teaspoonful to be taken occasionally in a little water; or New Milk.
Prepared according to the original recipe.
James Harley (from Basildon's Edinr.)
Family & dispensing chemist, 3 James' Sqaure, Crieff]]>
Harley; James (fl. 1878-1911); Chemist & Druggist]]> Gregory; James (1753-1821); Physician]]>
George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> to Her Majesty, Edinburgh
Blistering Plaister]]>
Moncreiff; John (1760-); Apothecary]]>
George III mahogany apothecary's box.]]> J. Moncreiff, Apothecary to her Majesty
Edinburgh]]>
Moncreiff; John (1760-); Apothecary]]>
Dettol; 1932-; Antiseptic manufacturer]]> Parke, Davis & Co. Ltd.; 1871-; Pharmaceutical company]]> M. Gardner & Son; 1822-1883; Optician and instrument maker]]> Burroughs, Wellcome & Co.; 1880-1942; Pharmaceutical manufacturers]]>