University Health Network - Academy of Medicine Collection
Category
Pharmacy and Drug Artifacts
Classification
Pharmacy, General
Accession Number
1969.507.1 a-ggg
Description
Rectangular wooden chest (ggg) with a brass handle and a key (aaa), lined with faded red velvet; the chest opens out into three compartments with shelves holding bottles and drawers; there are three small drawers (jj,ll,nn) with lids (kk,mm,oo), side by side, a medium drawer (pp), and a large drawe…
Rectangular wooden chest (ggg) with a brass handle and a key (aaa), lined with faded red velvet; the chest opens out into three compartments with shelves holding bottles and drawers; there are three small drawers (jj,ll,nn) with lids (kk,mm,oo), side by side, a medium drawer (pp), and a large drawer (qq), for small items; as well as bottles of various sizes, stoppered (a-c, e-s), unstoppered (d), metal-capped (aa-dd), etc., there are weights (rr-zz), a mortar and pestle (gg,hh), a funnel (ii), and part of a newspaper dated Feb. 19, 1858 (fff); several vials without hand written labels however these vials are named: cc = Hyosciam (Hyoscyamine; d = Ammonia; ff = Veratri (Veratrine / Veratrina / Veratridine); l = Pulv : Cambog (Powder of Cambogia); o = Camphora (camphor); y = Hydrag: Oxymur (hydragogue and oxymuriate)
Number Of Parts
59
Part Names
a-c - medium-sized square stoppered bottle - Size: Length 8.9 cm x Width 4.0 cm x Depth 4.0 cm
d - medium-sized square unstoppered bottle - Size: Length 7.8 cm x Width 4.0 cm x Depth 4.0 cm
e-o - medium-sized square stoppered bottle - Size: Length 8.9 cm x Width 4.0 cm x Depth 4.0 cm
p-s - large-sized square stoppered bottle - Size: Length 13.3 cm x Width 5.2 cm x Depth 6.3 cm
u-z - small-sized square bottle - Size: Length 6.6 cm x Width 3.5 cm x Depth 3.5 cm
aa-dd - jars with metal caps - Size: Length 6.6 cm x Diam. 3.2 cm
ee - tall, rounded bottle - Size: Length 9.3 cm
ff - short, rounded bottle - Size: Length 6.7 cm
gg - mortar - Size: Length 5.5 cm x Diam. 9.2 cm
hh - pestle - Size: Length 9.2 cm
ii - funnel - Size: Length 6.7 cm x Diam. 3.7 cm
jj - small wooden drawer - Size: Length 13.2 cm x Width 9.5 cm x Depth 3.9 cm
kk - lid for small wooden drawer - Size: Length 12.2 cm x Width 8.7 cm
ll - small wooden drawer - Size: Length 13.2 cm x Width 9.5 cm x Depth 3.9 cm
mm - lid for small wooden drawer - Size: Length 12.2 cm x Width 8.7 cm
nn - small wooden drawer - Size: Length 13.2 cm x Width 9.5 cm x Depth 3.9 cm
oo - lid for small wooden drawer - Size: Length 12.2 cm x Width 8.7 cm
pp - medium-sized wooden drawer - Size: Length 29.3 cm x Width 13.2 cm x Depth 4.5 cm
qq - large wooden drawer - Size: Length 29.3 cm x Width 13.2 cm x Depth 8.0 cm
rr-zz - weights
aaa - key - Size: Length 3.7 cm
bbb - packet of potash chlorate
ccc - white packet of Ert Kraminia
ddd - bottle cover
eee - advertisement
fff - newspaper; cheque record
ggg - medicine chest - Size: Length 63.2 cm x Width 22.3 cm x Depth 35.2 cm
Provenance
Acquired from the Academy of Medicine; source unknown.
Dates
1840
circa 1840
Material
wood: brown
glass:clear
metal: silver
paper: white; off-white; yellowed
chemicals: white, off-white; yellow; brown
fabric: faded red
Inscriptions
(n) labelled, "Laudanum - Poison // Josiah Green Chymist & Druggist // 630 Queen St. West, Toronto. Ont. Not connected with any other Drug Store in Toronto."; (u-v) labelled, "Henry Crewe surgeon - apothecary // Drug Clinical Pharmaceutical preparation. - - by the Royal College of Physicians."
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A6-1
Condition Remarks
#2: Chest in a "shocking state": powdered drugs spilled throughout the drawer; signs of mildew; velvet linings unglued; several weights not numbered; key does not open lock; #3: case and contents are now stable and safe for handling.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Internet
Reference Comments
Wikipedia
Research Facts
Laudanum is a tincture of opium containing approximately 10% powdered opium by weight (the equivalent of 1% morphine). Reddish-brown and extremely bitter, laudanum contains almost all of the opium alkaloids, including morphine and codeine.
cc = Hyosciam (Hyoscyamine): treat symptoms of gastrointestinal (GI) tract disorders (irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcers), reduce tremors in patients with Parkinson’s disease, reduce salivation and sweating, slows stomach and intestinal movement, and slows secretion of stomach acid
d = Ammonia: treat fainting (used as a smelling salt), pungent odour is passed under the nose of an unconscious person to wake them up, high exposure of ammonia to the lungs can be deadly
ff = Veratri (Veratrine / Veratrina / Veratridine): only well established as a form of treatment for sciatica and neuralgia, topical irritant
l = Pulv : Cambog (Powder of Cambogia): drastic purgative, derived from gum resin of Garcinia Hanburii, now used for weight loss and/or cholesterol control
o = Camphora (camphor): soothe illness, pain and itching, reduce urge to cough, heart stimulant, produces a cold sensation when put in contact with the body, used now in products such as Vicks VapoRub / A535, works by stimulating nerve endings to relieve pain/ itching
y = Hydrag: Oxymur (hydragogue and oxymuriate): edema / dropsy, obstructed menstruation, oxymuriate is a chlorate salt, hydrogogue is a powder of resin of podophyllum, hydrogogu
Exhibit History
On exhibit in "Friendly Fire 1812," Agnes Etherington Art Centre, 27 Feb. 2012 - 7 Sept. 2012: L-20120-2.