Details

Travelling medicine chest

HC.I.18.1

Travelling medicine chest dating from the late eighteenth century. The chest includes two pewter containers and eight glass bottles, seven of which have pewter tops and one that has a glass top. The design of this bottle is slightly different and may be a replacement. It is labeled: "F.G. Oldenburg & Zoon Pepermant Olie Kalverstraat No.101" The bottle would have contained peppermint oil. F.G. Oldenburg & son (translated from Dutch) was a pharmacy in Amsterdam that was probably active until at least the mid-nineteenth century. Because regimental surgeons were responsible for all aspects of medical care, such chests would have been part of the regimental surgeon's equipment. Few physicians and apothecaries were employed by the army or navy and those that were were found at larger base or garrison hospitals.

Eighteenth century, late