Browse Artefacts (885 total)

Pulsatilla, or Puls, prepared by Joseph James, Cheltenham. A common nineteenth-century herbal medicine, pulsatilla was prescribed by practitioners of homeopathy and physicians throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Pulsatilla, part of…

Tincture of Castoreum, labelled by Sir Stuart Threipland in his medicine chest as ‘Ti Castor:R’.

Castoreum, a red-brown secretion from beaver inguinal sacs. The term ‘castor’ is the Latin word for beaver and is used to describe the castor…

Powdered Jalap, labelled by Sir Stuart Threipland in his medicine chest as ‘S. Pul R: Ialap’ (Pulv subtiliss rad jalap).

Jalap is the name of the drug and the plant it comes from, traditionally grown in Mexico, India and Jamaica. Powdered…

Mistura Antifebrifuge, labelled by Sir Stuart Threipland in his medicine chest as ‘Mis. Antifeb’. Mistura antifebrifuge was a mixture effective against fevers which often worked by reducing the body temperature. It is unclear which ingredients…

Anodyne Balsam (Balsam Anodyn, balsamum anodynum), labelled by Sir Stuart Threipland in his medicine chest as ‘Bal Anodyn’. A preparation of soft soap, opium powder, camphor, oil of rosemary and rectified spirits. Anodyne Balsam was applied…

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…