Medicine chest
Category
Medical & health
Date
1800
Materials
Brass, Glass, Linen, Mercury, Paper, Plaster, Silk, Stone, Wood
Measurements
356 mm (H)305 mm (W)
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Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
NT 1338260
Summary
Medicine chest, c.1800, with contents. Of modified Duke of York type. Brass swan necked handle to rising lid. Panels either side can be removed by sliding them upwards when their spring catches are released from within the chest. There are also doors front the back. Rising lid opens to reveal; Central compartment for six large bottles. Behind central compartment there is a shelf with partitions with several later objects. To either side of central compartment are two further compartments, each with wooden cover. On left are three old syringes and thin piece of glass. On right side there is a modern empty thermometer case, syringe (incomplete) and a glass leech tube. The front door opens to reveal partitioned racks for twelve large bottles (not all present). Many labelled - Syrup of Senna, Cream of Tartar, Dill Seed Water. Behind rising panel on right side of chest; Upper layer partitioned for five small bottles, one wrapped in silk contains mercury. Below are two small drawers, upper drawer containing various assortments. One of the pill boxes labelled 'James Cockle, Surgeon, Compound Antibilious Pills'. Lower drawer contains newspaper cutting 'Cure for Chilblains'. Small pieces of lint or plaster. Below is a through drawer containing mortar and pestle and lint, nipple shields. Behind rising panel on left side of chest ; partitioned for five bottles, four present; Medicated Spirit of Wine, Spirit of Sal Volatile, Sweet Spirit of Nitre, Ammonia Liniment.
Provenance
a letter inside one canister addressed to Charles Wade from Tivoli House, Cheltenham Given to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade.