Small brown glass rectangular container with black metal screw cap with two cream paper labels; half full of small round pellets; main label with decorative blue border and small lable on back in red text noting the contents are poison; base with embossed glass manufacturers model number.
Small brown glass rectangular container with black metal screw cap with two cream paper labels; half full of small round pellets; main label with decorative blue border and small lable on back in red text noting the contents are poison; base with embossed glass manufacturers model number.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Owned by Gladys (Millar) Rockel, donated by her son Stephen Rockel.
On the label: "1000 // Chocolate Coated Tablets // 140 // STRYCHNINE // 1-30 Gr. // 1170 // MANUFACTURED BY // W. E. SAUNDERS, LIMITED // LONDON - ONTARIO"; on smaller label: "POISON // This label is used in // conformity with the // Pharmacy Act. Sec. 31 // W. E. Saunders, Limited // London - Ontario"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A2-7
Width
5.03 cm
Height
12.0 cm
Depth
3.4 cm
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
Label with surface grime, back label with minor water stain, edge of cap shows silver metal under black paint
Used in the Victorian era, taken in very small doses. Very poisonous, causes death by making respiratory muscles contract, resulting in suffocation. Renders nerves more sensitive to stimulation, helping patients with paralysis. Increases saliva production, which in turn increases a patient’s appetite. Chocolate coated tablets (one 30th of a grain)
mixed with dilute sulphuric acid and glycerine and used as a rub applied to limbs + spinal cord. Starting dose is one 24th of a grain. Strychnine poisoning symptoms are very similar to cholera symptoms.