Monday, February 8, 2016

Amazon Expedition Medicine Chest

The Wellcome Trust's "History of Medicine" collection is a goldmine of classic-era goodness.  This wood and cowhide medicine chest was used during an expedition to the Amazon in 1911.  Compressive force from the lid kept the ground glass stoppers tightly sealed in their bottles.


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2 comments:

  1. CoastConFanFebruary 8, 2016 at 5:22 AM

    Another image and write up of Burroughs Wellcome & Co’s version of “Livingston’s Medicine Chest” http://wellcomecollection.org/livingstone%C2%92s-medicine-chest

    Some history on Burroughs Wellcome & Co, founded 1879 http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/About-us/History/WTX051562.htm

    Some more info about medical products of the period http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1279970/

    Info about the portable Tabloid medicine kits by Burroughs Wellcome http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/techniques/tabloidmedicines

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  2. AnonymousFebruary 8, 2016 at 8:03 PM

    And by "tabloid," they mean tablets.

    The interior of the top looks like a separate piece, with the remains of additional buckles and hinges on it. Do you think there's a small compartment behind it? Perhaps with ... I dunno, a quick-reference guide or something? WHAT ARE THEY HIDING?

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