Millipedae, c1745-1807

Description

Glass jar containing woodlice. From the Burges Collection.

Text on paper contents label reads ‘Catal. Mat. Med. p. 128, No. 82’ and ‘Millipedae’.

Woodlice had many uses including dissolving kidney and bladder stones and curing rickets and syphilis. Harrod says that ‘Powdered Millepedes were highly celebrated in the suppression of urine, for jaundice and for weakness of sight.’