Browse Artefacts (75 total)

Infusion of Crocus Mettalorum, labelled by Sir Stuart Threipland in his medicine chest as ‘In. Croc: Metal’.

Crocus Mettalorum (Crocus of Antimony; Liver of Antimony) was a strong purgative used to induce vomiting. An infusion of crocus…

Tincture of Myrrh, labelled by Sir Stuart Threipland in his medicine chest as ‘Ti Myrrh’. Myrrh is a resin extracted from commiphora habessinica, here combined with liquid to make an infusion. Tinctures of myrrh were used as astringents and…

Powdered Peruvian Bark (Cinchona), labelled by Sir Stuart Threipland in his medicine chest as ‘Pul C: Peruvia’.

When mixed with milk, water or wine, powdered Peruvian bark created a drink which relieved pain and fevers. This will have been…

Tincture of Cantharides, labelled by Sir Stuart Threipland in his medicine chest as ‘Ti Canth’.

Cantharidin (Cantharides, Cantharis, Cantharid) refers to substances produced by the Lytta (formerly Cantharis) Vesicatoria beetle (Spanish Fly;…

Tincture of English Crocus, labelled by Sir Stuart Threipland in his medicine chest as ‘Tin Croc:Anglic’.

English crocus was used alongside rhubarb as an effective eighteenth- and nineteenth-century laxative, but English crocus powder could…

Spirit of Terebinth, labelled by Sir Stuart Threipland in his medicine chest as ‘Spt Terebinth’.

Terebinth (pistacia terebinthus; turpentine tree) refers to both the terebinth tree and the resin it produces, now known as turpentine. Spirit of…

This bottle contains white powder.

The most prominent use for camphorated chalk was as a tooth powder. Chalk was often used in early dentifrices and camphor would have been added for its antiseptic properties. Tooth powders could be made by…

This bottle is empty.

Originating in China and India, it is said that the first European account of this vegetable was in the notes of Marco Polo. Although propagated in the British Isles by the 19th century, the types of rhubarb were often…

This bottle probably contained a substance called ‘Gregory’s Powder’ as evidenced by the pinkish hue of the surviving powder. The powder was named after its inventor Dr James Gregory, a physician in Edinburgh and was used as a laxative. It…

This bottle is empty.

Probably Puluerem Ipepacuanha cum Opium Ipecac, or ipecacuanha, is the dried root of a plant originating in the Americas. In this medicinal chest, it is listed as ‘pu’, shorthand for puluerem, meaning powdered. It was…