Dakin Brothers, Wholesale and Export Druggists medicine bottle

Maker Dakin Brothers, Wholesale and Export Druggists (Established 1859)

Date1900 - 1935

Object number00006100

NameBottle

MediumGlass, organic matter

DimensionsOverall: 67 x 29 x 29mm, 0.05 kg

ClassificationsTools and equipment

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionDakin Brothers, Wholesale and Export Druggists medicine bottle containing brown residue from the original contents. According to the Drugs of Addiction authority this object contains morphine and opium.HistoryDuring the 19th century, practices in the medical profession were still developing and when compared to modern day standards seem primitive. Often doctors were only called in emergencies, such as a serious accident or illness. They would make home visits carrying a wide variety of instruments in their portable kits, ranging from dental, amputee and extraction utensils. Many of their prescribed cures are worrying for modern eyes, such as bloodletting that was used for fevers, headaches and even haemorrhages. Ship surgeons worked in much more confined spaces and harsher conditions than ordinary homeland doctors did. Operations and consultations were performed between decks in cramped spaces, usually in the cockpit. Ship surgeons were confronted with maintaining the general health of the entire ship. This involved managing any disease outbreaks, performing amputations (common on naval ships), dental work and any sickness brought on by poor health and diet. Hernias were a common ailment for seamen who regularly undertook hard manual labour and consumed a poor diet.