Ship's Medicine Chest
Ship's Medicine Chest
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- 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.
- Object Name
- drug chest
- Medicine Chest
- Date made
- 19th Century
- maker
- Gray Telephone Pay Station Co.
- ship docked at port
- United States: New York, Mamaroneck
- Canada: Nova Scotian, Halifax
- United States: Maryland, Baltimore
- 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
- ID Number
- MG.302606.154
- catalog number
- 302606.154
- accession number
- 302606
- Credit Line
- Gift of The Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of the State of Maryland
- Expansion and Reform
- 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
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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