Historical information
Ipecacuan powder, or Dover's powder, was a common emetic used through the eighteenth and nineteenth century as a sudorific and prescribed for colds, coughs, insomnia, rheumatism, pleurisy, and dysentery.
Gum arabic was often used as an additive to promote binding of other ingredients to a liquid medium. Likely gum arabic was not prescribed by itself even though there are some health benefits for doing so, such as slowing the rate of absorption of some drugs within the gut.
Camphor was a stimulant, narcotic and sudorific and was administered in pill form which included part ipecacuanha and opium to non acute fevers and remedy chromic rheumatism, as part of a liquid mixture to treat violent headaches as well as rheumatism, or in a solid form stored in a small bag worn around a patient's neck as a preservative against infection.
Lint was commonly used for medical dressings.
Physical description
The right 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 semi-circle 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
Ipecacuan. Powder.
Gum Arabic.
Camphor.
Lint.
Subjects
References
- Dover's Powder Details the usage history and composition of a common preparation of ipecacuan, also includes a quote from Doctor Sharp of the British naval service which describes the remedial approach for crew members with dysentery in 1818.
- The Medical Chest in Rough Medicine: Surgeons at Sea in the Age of Sail ISBN/ISSN: 9780415924511 Details the history of medical chests in seafaring journeys and specifically mentions Dover's powder on page 62.
- Gum Arabic in Cox's Companion to the Sea Medicine Chest Details various medicines present in medicine chests in the mid-nineteenth century and gum arabic is specifically mention on page 44 and has other mentions as part of medical recipes on multiple pages.
- Gum Arabic Details the various uses of gum arabic, though no specific mention is given to its uses in medical practices.
- Gum Arabic in Cox's Companion to the Sea Medicine Chest Details various medicines present in medicine chests in the mid-nineteenth century and camphor is specifically mention on page 25-6 and has other mentions as part of medical recipes on multiple pages.
