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| One of the Perspex display units containing historic pharmacy items |
Two portable showcases holding pharmacy items from the 19th
and early 20th centuries have been displayed in a variety of surroundings since
they were first made available for loan by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s
museum in 1996.
Along with five complementary panels on “Medicines and their makers”,
the showcases are currently on display in the Smithkline Beecham research building
in Harlow, Essex, in connection with Harlow district council’s millennium
celebrations. The showcases recently travelled to Scotland, where they helped
a West Calder pharmacy win a prize during a local civic week (see p474).
Since they were first offered on loan, the showcases have been displayed at
a range of sites such as community pharmacies, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies,
museums, libraries and education centres.
One case is themed around the art of Victorian dispensing and includes a pill
mortar, pill machine, pill rounders and silverers, powder folders and suppository
moulds. The other case has a Victorian ceramic inhaler, a group of medicine
and poison bottles, rectal ointment introducers and a range of 19th and early
20th century medicines.
Each case consists of a clear Perspex display unit on a waist-high plinth. The
objects are permanently secured to the base of the sealed unit. For transit,
the plinth becomes a protective case. Packed for transit, the cases are 75cm
x 60cm x 90cm high. Each weighs about 40kg.
The cases may be borrowed singly or as a pair. The standard loan period is one
month, but longer periods can sometimes be arranged. Loan of the showcases attracts
a small administration fee. Borrowers may collect them, or the museum can arrange
delivery at cost. Borrowers must meet certain conditions as regards security
during use and transit.
Further information about the showcases can be obtained from the Museum Curator,
Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 1 Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7JN (tel 020
7735 9141 ext 354; fax 020 7793 0232; e-mail museum@rpsgb.org.uk).
Information is also available on the Society’s website (www.rpsgb.org.uk).