Exploring Medicines
Discover how a variety of medicinal preparations have been made through the centuries and the essential pharmaceutical equipment used.
‘Mortar Willie’ – Drug Grinder, Edinburgh, 1815
Coloured engraving “WILLM. WILSON. Commonly called Mortar Willie. Aged 107” Drawn, engraved and published by John Kay in 1815. William Wilson (1709-1815), also known as ‘Mortar Willie’, ...
‘Terra Sigillata’ medicinal clay tablets
This box contains samples of ‘Terra Lemnia, Terra Sigillata, Sealed Earth’ medicinal clay tablets. The mineral rich clay was believed during the Renaissance to have ...
“YOU DIRTY BOY!”, 1880s
This painted plaster model is advertising Pears Soap. It shows an old woman, wearing a bonnet and a shawl, scrubbing the face of a small ...
A George III Double Fronted Mahogany Apothecary’s Chemistry Cabinet
Dating from the reign of King George III, this is a mahogany apothecary’s chemistry cabinet. ‘Inflammable bodies’ and ‘earthy metallic minerals’ are just two ...
Adeps Castoris, c1745-1807
Glass jar enclosing glass phial containing beaver fat. From the Burges Collection. Text on paper labels reads ‘Catal. Mat. Med. p. 119, no. 5’ and ‘ADEPS CASTORIS’. ...
Adeps Ursi, c1745-1807
Cardboard box, enclosing a glass cup sealed with leather and plastic wrapping, containing bear fat. From the Burges Collection. Text on paper box labels reads ‘...
Adeps Viperae, c1745-1807
Glass jar containing one glass phial of viper fat. From the Burges Collection. Text on paper label reads ‘ADEPS VIPERAE CATAL. MAT. MED. P.119. NO 3’. ...
Album Graecum (Burges Collection of Materia Medica, late 1700s)
If this looks like something a dog might have left on the street, you’d actually be right. Album Graecum (‘Greek white’) was a special ...
Alcis Cornua et Ungula, c1745-1807
Glass specie jar for containing the horn of an elk. From the Burges Collection. Text on paper contents label reads ‘Catal. mat. med. p. 118. No. 1. ...
Alcis Cornua et Ungula, c1745-1807
Glass specie jar for containing the hoof of an elk. From the Burges Collection. Text on paper contents label reads ‘Catal. mat. med. p. 118. No. 1. ...