Small walnut medicine chest, Italy, 1851-1910

Made:
1851-1910 in Bologna
Small walnut(?) medicine chest with 2 hinged front sections and Small walnut(?) medicine chest with 2 hinged front sections and Small walnut(?) medicine chest with 2 hinged front sections and

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Small walnut(?) medicine chest with 2 hinged front sections and
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Small walnut(?) medicine chest with 2 hinged front sections and
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Small walnut(?) medicine chest with 2 hinged front sections and
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Small walnut(?) medicine chest with 2 hinged front sections and hinged lid, decorated with metal strap work mounts, containing 11 labelled glass bottles with glass stoppers wrapped in parchment and string, most with contents, 10 packets of powders, brush, list of contents, 4 small glass containers, prepared by Fratelli Zanelli, Bologna, Gorga collection, Italian, 1851-1910

The medicine chest contains fifteen glass bottles with glass stoppers covered with parchment and string, along with boxes of powder and accessories. Most still have their original contents.

The chest is from the personal collection of the Italian tenor Evangelista Gennaro Gorga (1865-1957). Gorga’s collection was of ‘medical antiquities’, ranging from antiquity to the 1700s. Gorga sold part of his collection to Henry Wellcome in 1924. A second part was offered and bought in 1936 while Gorga was experiencing financial difficulties.

Details

Category:
Materia Medica & Pharmacology
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A665555
Materials:
walnut, ? material, steel and lining, velvet
type:
medicine chest
credit:
Wellcome Trust

Parts

Small bottle of Laudano Liquido

Small bottle of Laudano Liquido

Small clear glass bottle with chamois covering on stopper full of 'Laudano Liquido del Sydenham' (Sydenham's laudanum or opium tincture). 70 mm x 23 mm diameter, 38g. Prepared by Fratelli Zanelli, Bologna, Gorga collection, Italian, 1851-1910.

Measurements:
overall: 70 mm 23 mm, 38g
Materials:
opium tincture , glass , chamois and complete
Object Number:
A665555 Pt9
type:
bottle and opium
Small poison bottle of Triaca

Small poison bottle of Triaca

Small blue glass bottle with metal lid containing 'Triaca' (Theriac). 55 mm x 22 mm diameter, 26 g. Prepared by Fratelli Zanelli, Bologna, Gorga collection, Italian, 1851-1910.

Measurements:
overall: 55 mm 22 mm, 26g
Materials:
opium , glass and metal
Object Number:
A665555 Pt12
type:
opium and bottle
Paper packet containing Bismuth and Opium

Paper packet containing Bismuth and Opium

Paper packet tied with red string containing Bismuth and Opium powder (Bismuto e Oppio). 11 mm x 42 mm x 15 mm, 2 g. Prepared by Fratelli Zanelli, Bologna, Gorga collection, Italian, 1851-1910.

Measurements:
overall: 11 mm x 42 mm x 15 mm, 4 mm, 2g
Materials:
opium , paper , string and complete
Object Number:
A665555 Pt17
type:
opium and packet
Paper packet containing Dover's Powder

Paper packet containing Dover's Powder

Paper packet tied with red string containing Dover's Powder (opium and ipecacuanha). 11 mm x 42 mm x 15 mm, 3 g. Prepared by Fratelli Zanelli, Bologna, Gorga collection, Italian, 1851-1910.

Measurements:
overall: 11 mm x 42 mm x 15 mm, 4 mm, 3g
Materials:
opium , paper , string and complete
Object Number:
A665555 Pt24
type:
opium and packet
Phial containing four brown pills

Phial containing four brown pills

Small glass phial with cork stopper containing 4 brown pills ' Tdrocl. Morfina', presumed to be a morphine preparation. 38 mm x 8 mm diameter, 2 g. Prepared by Fratelli Zanelli, Bologna, Gorga collection, Italian, 1851-1910.

Measurements:
overall: 38 mm 8 mm, 2g
Materials:
glass , cork , morphine and complete
Object Number:
A665555 Pt26
type:
morphine and phial