University Health Network - Academy of Medicine Collection
Category
Pharmacy and Drug Artifacts
Classification
Pharmacy, General
Accession Number
1976.6.42 a-w
Description
Brown solid hide leather case with 24 partitions of crimson velvet (a) containing 22 cylindrical transparent glass vials (b-w); vials are partially full with either pills or powder and one empty; vial closures sealed with cork stoppers, all originals; half on either side as case folds open; several…
Brown solid hide leather case with 24 partitions of crimson velvet (a) containing 22 cylindrical transparent glass vials (b-w); vials are partially full with either pills or powder and one empty; vial closures sealed with cork stoppers, all originals; half on either side as case folds open; several vials without hand written labels however these vials are named: e - Bismuth Subnitrate; f - Morphine Sulphate & Atropine Sulphate; i – Calomel; k – Aphrodis; m – Pilocarpine; u - Heart Tonic; v - Dover Powder (Dover’s Powder).
Number Of Parts
23
Part Names
a - case - Length 22.0 cm Width 16.0 cm
b-w - vials - Length 6.7 cm Diameter 1.5 cm
Provenance
Acquired from the Academy of Medicine; source: Dr. J. Hannah of Toronto; Dr. Weston L. Herriman.
Dates
1850
1900
circa 1850-1900
Date Remarks
Original owner graduated from medical school in 1855
Material
leather: brown
fabric: crimson
cork: brown
glass: clear
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A6-5
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Document
Research Facts
e - Bismuth Subnitrate: treat peptic ulcers (in the stomach and/or duodenum), anti-diarrheic agent, dermatological agent, also called bismuth oxynitrate and bismuthyl nitrate, bis subnit acts as an antacid and neutralizes stomach acid
f - Morphine Sulphate & Atropine Sulphate: pain relief, antispasmodic (mainly for ureteral and biliary colic), using morphine and atropine simultaneously increases the effects of each medication, relaxes and relieves spasms of the gall bladder
i – Calomel: purgative / laxative, made of mercurous chloride, also used as an insecticide and fungicide, kills bacteria, incubation period of infectious disease, cholera, dysentery, cardiac dropsy, pleurisy, malign. fever, malaria, syphilis, gout, worms, cholelithiasis, mitral insufficiency, eclampsia gravidarum, smallpox pitting, pruritus, diphtheria, syphilitic ulcers, myiasis, membrane croup (by fumigation), condylomata, warts.
k – Aphrodis: erectile dysfunction / sexual impotence in men, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men, pulmonary arterial hypertension in men and women.
m – Pilocarpine: glaucoma, treat dry mouth, throat and eyes in patients who have received radiotherapy for cancer, or patients with Sjogren’s syndrome, acts as a miotic and constricts the pupils, increases secretion by the exocrine glands, which results in the contraction of the iris sphincter muscle and ciliary muscle
u - Heart Tonic: heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, hypertension, treats the symptoms of mild to moderate heart failure.
v - Dover Powder (Dover’s Powder): mixture of ipecacuanha, powdered opium, and lactose, was available in Britain until the 1960s, and in India until 1994, used during the American civil war, by Italian troops in the Western Desert, and by the Navy in WWII.
This artefact is part of a set of surgical instruments belonging to Dr. Weston L. Herriman, who was one of the first nine students who graduated in 1855 from the newly formed School of Medicine at the Church of Scotland - affiliated University of Queen's College (1854, Kingston, Ont.). The nine senior students had transferred from the Anglican Upper Canada School of Medicine (Toronto) to the new school at Queen's.
Exhibit History
“On loan L-2016-4” to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s 150th Anniversary exhibit; 30 April-8 July, 2016
On exhibit, Billings Estate, 15 Jan 2009 - 31 Dec. 2009