Margariteae Purpureae, c1745-1807

Description

Glass jar containing specimens of purple pearl (possibly from Avicula margaritifera). From the Burges Collection.

Text on paper labels reads ‘Catal. Mat. Med. p. 116. No. 60’ and ‘MARGARITAE PURPUREAE’.

Nicolas Lemery says that ‘All Pearl is esteem’d cordial, proper against Infection, to recruit and restore lost Spirits; but their chief Virtue is to destroy and kill the Acids, as other Alcalies do, and likewise to correct the Acrimony of the Stomach. Pearl is likewise good against a canine Appetite, a Flux of the Belly, the Hemorrhage, etc. The Dose from six or ten Grains to a Dram.’ Pomet adds that ‘The Ladies of Quality use the fine ground Powder of it, to give a Lustre and Beauty to the Face’ and that ‘the best and only useful Preparation of it, is the Powder well levigated.’