Historical information

Tartar Emetic was a powerful emetic used during the nineteenth and twentieth century, though, it had been known of since the middle ages, which was used to widely treat a variety of infections and aliments. However, this medicine was known to cause multiple serious side effects and would be discontinued from use by the mid to late twentieth century.

Unknown chalk.

Aperient Pills are a drug used to relieve constipation.

Calomel was once used as a purgative to remove unwanted waste from one's body. Calomel is a mercurous chloride mineral and looks like a white powder. Unfortunately, when used in high does, which was common during its use in the eighteenth century, it caused many side effects due to it inducing mercury poisoning. Many of the side effects however, were perceived as the medicine working properly , which only perpetuated its use until it was eventually removed from medical practice in the nineteenth century, being determined that it was more harmful than remedial.

Physical description

The left one of two marching medium sized wood drawers. Each drawer features four sliding lids on their top face which has a corresponding paper label depending on its contents as well as a small crescent notch, these lids slide laterally in pairs for either direction. These drawers are found in the front storage location of the parent item and bellow a row of glass containers.

Inscriptions & markings

Tartar Emetic

... Chalk

Aperient Pills

Calomel

References