Summary
Clear glass jar containing Dragon's Blood used in the pharmacy of a mental health hospital, Victoria, Australia, circa 1900.
Dragon's blood is a red resin prepared from fruits of climbing palms (Daemonorops draco). Used medicinally for the treatment of diarrhoea and severe syphilis.
Physical Description
Small, clear, glass apothecary's jar with circular, concave base, straight sides, rounded shoulder, fairly wide neck with slightly protruding rim and sealed with short, broad cork. Typed paper label on side "Dragon's blood" and recently added (1985.09.10) explanatory label on back. Bottle holds approximately 150mL of red powdered material. Dragon's blood could be from a number of sources, including the plant species croton, dracaena, daemonocrops, calamus rotang, pterocarpus or cinnabar (mercury sulfide).
Significance
Example of pharmaceuitcal products used in Victorian mental health hospitals
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Office of Psychiatric Services, May 1985
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Place & Date Used
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Inscriptions
Dragon's Blood/ xs/lb i/oz, typed on paper label on side. An explanatory label on the back, added in 1985, explaining usage.
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Classification
Medicine & health, Mental health - pharmacy, Pharmaceuticals
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
7 cm (Length), 20 cm (Height)
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Exhibition Collection Management
70 mm (Length), 70 mm (Width), 200 mm (Height)
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References
Information on exhibit.
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Keywords
Pharmaceuticals, Psychiatric Hospitals, Syphilis, Making History - Psych Services
