Adeps Castoris, c1745-1807

Description

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’.

Pomet, in his Compleat History of Druggs, says that ‘The Fat of the Beaver is us’d as an Ointment against the Palsy, Convulsions, histerical Fits, Apoplexy, and Falling-Sickness. Take half a Pound of Beavers Fat, Oils of Rosemary, Nutmegs, Amber, and Mace, of each one Dram.’