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Bottle of Ipecacuanaha Powder prepared by A.W. Richardson, Chemist and Druggist, Mount Barker
Bottle of Ipecacuanaha Powder prepared by A.W. Richardson, Chemist and Druggist, Mount Barker

Bottle of Ipecacuanaha Powder prepared by A.W. Richardson, Chemist and Druggist, Mount Barker

Maker (Australian, 1894)
Datec 1880
Object number00006102
NameBottle
MediumPaper, glass, organic powder (dried ipecacuanaha root)
DimensionsOverall: 94 x 34 x 34mm, 0.05 kg
ClassificationsTools and equipment
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA bottle of ipecacuanaha powder (Cephaelis ipecacuanha) prepared by A.W. Richardson, a chemist and druggist from Mount Barker in South Australia. Ipecacuanha was traditionally used as an emetic, a vomit inducing powder or syrup for emptying the stomach in cases of poisoning.HistoryAdam Watson Richardson, born in Dunbar Scotland in 1826 and died in Mount Barker in 1894 was a chemist who carried on a business in Gawler Street, Mount Barker until he died on April 6 1894. Richardson had two brothers, both of whom were also chemists. Ipecacuanha is the dried root of Cephaelis ipecacuanha, a plant from Brazil and became popular in Europe in the late 1600's and onwards as a treatment for dysentery and bronchitis. Combined with opium it was the basis of Dover's Powder, developed by Thomas Dover and used as a treatment for fevers and was still popular into the C20.SignificanceThis bottle of powder became part of a pharmaceutical chest orginally bought out from England in the mid C19.