Ship's Medicine Chest
Object Details
- Description
- Starting in 1790, American merchant ships larger than 150 tons and with more than 10 crew members were required to have medicine chests with contents assembled by an “apothecary of known reputation.” These had to be accompanied by instructions for the administration of each medicine. Most commonly, either the captain or first mate administered pharmaceutical products to any crew in need.
- This example has labels from the ports of Baltimore, Maryland; Mamaroneck, New York, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, indicating it was replenished more than once over its useful life.
- Credit Line
- Gift of The Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of the State of Maryland
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- Date made
- 19th Century
- ID Number
- MG.302606.154
- catalog number
- 302606.154
- accession number
- 302606
- maker
- Gray Telephone Pay Station Co.
- Object Name
- drug chest
- Medicine Chest
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- metal (overall material)
- glass (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 46.7 cm x 37 cm x 18.7 cm; 18 3/8 in x 14 9/16 in x 7 3/8 in
- ship docked at port
- United States: New York, Mamaroneck
- Canada: Nova Scotian, Halifax
- United States: Maryland, Baltimore
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Pharmacy
- Health & Medicine
- Cultures & Communities
- Work
- Industry & Manufacturing
- Natural Resources
- Transportation
- Exhibition
- On the Water
- Exhibition Location
- National Museum of American History
- related event
- Expansion and Reform
- Record ID
- nmah_1278430
