Brief Description

Apothecary's medicine box, eighteenth century, being a high, shallow, rectangular chest with drawer at base. Contains six rectangular bottles and a hook-end balance scale, weights.

History of Object

Materials and Finishes

Wood (polished), brass, velvet, glass, metal and silk.

References

Brief Description

Dr. Wililam Nosper Jakins's travelling medicine chest, with two vertical hinged side compartments, that fold outwards, revealing bottom horizontal compartment. One side compartment is divided into two sections to hold small tubes of powders or hypodermic solutions and larger bottles. The other side compartment is divided into two sections with leather-covered panels to securely hold circular cardboard boxes of crystals and powders. Glued onto one of the panels is a handwritten list of chemicals. The bottom horizontal compartment is divided into sections to store large and medium-sized solution bottles.

History of Object

This item was originally donated to the Medical Society of Victoria (which later became part of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Medical Association). The A.M.A. donated its historical collection of documents and artifacts to the University of Melbourne's Medical History Museum in 1994.

This medicine chest originally belonge dto Dr. William Nosper Jakins; was originally donated to the Medical Society of Victoria by a Jan Power of Camberwell.

Materials and Finishes

Chemicals, wood, leather, fabric, glass and paper.

References

Brief Description

Cedar medicine chest which belonged to Dr. John Pearson Rowe from the 1840s to 1878. Square chest with separate compartments for solution bottles, upper section with lift-out tray and lower drawer.

History of Object

This item was originally donated to the Medical Society of Victoria (which later became part of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Medical Association). The A.M.A. donated its historical collection of documents and artifacts to the University of Melbourne's Medical History Museum in 1994.

Medicine chest originally belonged to Dr. John Pearson Rowe and was donated after his death by Dr. Edward Ryan.

Materials and Finishes

Cedar, metal, glass, paper and chemicals.

References

Brief Description

Polished wooden upright medicine chest, with recessed brass carry-handle on top, frotn opening doors, a central section for four glass-stoppered bottles and two red velvet-lined drawers, compartments for six bottles on inside of doors and upper section for four bottles behind slidign wood panel. Chest is lockable; key opens right hand door and press catch opening for left-hand door. Drawers contain measuring equipment: bottles, pestle and mortar.

History of Object

Materials and Finishes

Wood, glass, ivory, brass, porcelain and velvet.

References

Brief Description

Wooden chest, hinged lift-up lid, green velvet lining, brass handles on sides, and brass lock. Bottles are held in compartments, arranged around a central section which contains measuring equipment (scales, weights, porcelain spoon and lead funnel). Central compartment lifts up, and section below contains small bottles, glass mortar and two glass pestles. There are nineteen variously sized glass stoppered bottles, and two metal-lidded cylindrical jars.

History of Object

Purchased 1975.

Materials and Finishes

Wood, velvet, brass, glass, paper, porcelain, silk and contents (chemical).

References

See Supplementary File for contents list and further details.

Brief Description

Polished wooden upright chest with brass carry-handle on top, front opening doors (right hand lock; left hand press-catch), a central section with compartment for five glass-stoppered bottles and five drawers, compartments for nine bottles behind each hinged door, and rear compartment behind sliding wood panel with compartments for four bottles, three drawers and a lower compartment for scales. Centre and door compartments lined with green velvet. Decorative wood inlay. Rear compartment can only be opened when front cabinet doors are open.

History of Object

Materials and Finishes

Wood, brass, glass, paper and contents (chemical).

References

See Supplementary File for contents list and further details.

Brief Description

Medicine chest (portable pharmacy) with stained and varnished wood; lift-up lid and pull-out drawer secured by descending pin adjustment to lock. Lid lined with felt and has pull-down compartment for papers. Contains a number of glass jars with glass stoppers, ointment, mortar, pestle, pottery jars and glass jars with wooden lids.

History of Object

Donated by Dr. S. Peters, 1977. Used by Dr. James Naphthine (1866-1908?), born Terang, educated at Warrambool Grammar, attended University of Melbourne, then Edinburgh. Practised Port Fairy 1891, then purchased practice of Dr. Jack of Stawell. Was Mayor of Stawell, 1902 (see handwritten notes in bottom drawer of chest).

Materials and Finishes

Wood, metal, glass, paper, chamois, pottery and contents (chemical).

References

See Supplementary File for list of contents.

Brief Description

Polished wooden medicine chest with lift-up lid lined with red crushed velvet. Section below lid holds eight bottles. Pull-out drawer has compartments for four bottles and centre lift-up section with velvet-lined compartment underneath. Drawer is fastened with brass rod which can only be released when lid is unlocked.

History of Object

Donated by Dr. A.D. McCutcheon. Originally owned by Dr. L. Grey Thompson, Superintendent of Launceston General Hospital. Later used by Dr. J.S. McKay.

Materials and Finishes

Wood, glass and metal.

References

See Supplementary File for list of contents.