Exploring Medicines
Discover how a variety of medicinal preparations have been made through the centuries and the essential pharmaceutical equipment used.
Priapus Tauri, c1745-1807
Glass specie jar containing two specimens of bull’s penile bone. From the Burges Collection. Text on paper contents label reads ‘Catal. mat. med. p. 185. ...
Propolis, c1745-1807
Glass jar containing a specimen of honeycomb with propolis, a resinous substance used by bees as sealing material in their hives. From the Burges Collection. ...
Red Coral (Burges Collection of Materia Medica, late 1700s)
Although we know today that corals are animals, historic pharmacopoeias such as Pomet’s Compleat History of Druggs (1712) list them in their sections on medicinal ...
Rx Bistorta, c1745-1807
Glass jar root/rhizome. From the Burges Collection. Label on side of jar.RX. BISTORTA / Polygonum bistorta. Label on neck of jar :Catal. Mat. Med. ...
Safety Goggles, 1940-1960
Pair of safety goggles for use with the Readson Portasun Quartz Vapour Sun Lamp. The goggles are made up of leather frames with blue glass ...
Sanguis Bovinum, c1745-1807
Glass jar containing specimens of ox blood. From the Burges Collection. Text on paper labels reads ‘Catal. Mat. Med. p. 130, no. 103’ and ‘SANGUIS BOVINUM’. Lemery ...
Sanguis Draconis, c1745-1807
Glass jar with glass lid containing a specimen of Sanguis Draconis or Dragon’s Blood, the resin from the fruit of Daemonorops propinquus. From the ...
Sanguis Draconis, c1745-1807
Glass jar containing a specimen of Sanguis Draconis or Dragon’s Blood, the resin from the fruit of Daemonorops propinquus. From the Burges Collection. Text ...
Sanguis Hirci, c1745-1807
Glass jar containing specimens of goat blood. From the Burges Collection. Text on paper labels reads ‘Catal. Mat. Med. p. 130, no. 105’ and ‘SANGUIS HIRCI’. Pomet, ...
Scorpions (Burges Collection of Materia Medica, late 1700s)
Venomous creatures such as snakes and scorpions were often used by apothecaries as poison antidotes. An oil made from scorpions was also dropped into the ...