Summary
Pharmacy counter and shelves, circa 1880. They were used to administer pharmaceuticals to patients at the Ararat Lunatic Asylum, a mental health hospital in Ararat Victoria Australia. Drugs dispensed were purgatives, emetics, blistering agents, leeches and more latterly sedatives such as chloral hydrate and paraldehyde.
Physical Description
Pharmacy consists of panelled cedar counter with desk at one end and cedar medicine shelves filling 2 walls of a small room. Left-hand end of counter fits flat against wall. Front and righthand end have round-topped skirtingboard and 14.5 x 34cm inset panels framed with beading. Countertop overhangs front and right end by 21cm, supported every 26cm by stepped buttresses. Corners rounded Side can be extended by closing a panelled half-door crowned by narrow counter. On top of counter at this end is sloping desk-top with leather covered lid and surrounded on 3 sides by panelled 52cm high partition, top half of which has a railing with slim, ornately turned poles. Under bench are shelves (originally with a row of drawers).
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Aradale Mental Hospital (Ararat Asylum), Office of Psychiatric Services, May 1985
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Date Made
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Place & Date Used
Aradale Mental Hospital (Ararat Asylum), Ararat, Victoria, Australia, circa 1880
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Inscriptions
Numbers and letter painted in white, one on each section of top shelving.
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Classification
Medicine & health, Mental health - institutional life, Building fittings
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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overall dimensions
382 cm (Length), 379 cm (Width), 236 cm (Height)
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References
Stoller, Alan & Emmerson, Rona. History of Medicine Vol.3. No.1 1972.
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Keywords
Hospitals, Mental Health, Mental Health Institutions, Psychiatric Services, Psychiatric Hospitals, Pharmacy Equipment, Making History - Psych Services
