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This digital collection features selected medications and documents, manuals, and photographs relating to biochemical research and technology, with a focus on 20th-century instrumentation in medical laboratories. Various models of glucose, enzyme, and amino acid analyzers are a few of the instruments documented in these materials.
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206 items
[Recipes and extracts on alchemy, medicine, metal-working, cosmetics, veterinary science, agriculture, wine-making, and other subjects]
- 1425 – 1450
This manuscript is a diverse and well-organized recipe collection with more than 520 different recipes on topics ranging from alchemy and medicine to solutions for simple household problems such as fleas. A direct…
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142 items
Liber de arte Distillandi de Compositis
- Book on the Art of Distilling Compounds
- 1512
Hieronymous Brunschwig (c. 1453 – c. 1513) was a surgeon in the Imperial Free City of Strasbourg who published on subjects including medicine, the plague, and surgery, though his most important works were those…
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116 items
Miscellany of Medical, Magical, and Alchemical Recipes
- Circa 1520 – 1540
Found in its original plain binding of parchment, this work was most likely compiled by a practitioner of alchemy and medicine. Containing a handwritten copy of Liber lucis by John of Rupescissa (Johannes de Rupescissa)…
- Author Bacon, Roger, 1214?-1294, Johannes, de Rupescissa, approximately 1300-approximately 1365
- Attributed To Arnaldus, de Villanova, -1311, Jābir ibn Ḥayyān
- Subject Bacon, Roger, 1214?-1294, Arnaldus, de Villanova, -1311, Alchemy, Jābir ibn Ḥayyān, Johannes, de Rupescissa, approximately 1300-approximately 1365, Medicine--Manuscripts, Medicine, Manuscripts, Latin, Manuscripts, Italian, Alchemy--Manuscripts
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118 items
Coelum Philosophorum, seu De Secretis Naturae
- Philosopher’s Heaven or the Secrets of Nature
- 1525
An early work on the preparation of aqua vitae or the “water of life” (alcohol), by the process of distillation. This treatise describes the distillation process and necessary instrumentation in detail. Aqua vitae was…
- Author Ulstadius, Philippus
- Contributor Albertus, Magnus, Saint, 1193?-1280, Arnaldus, de Villanova, -1311, Llull, Ramon, 1232?-1316, Johannes, de Rupescissa, approximately 1300-approximately 1365., Grüninger, Johann, -1532?
- Subject Alchemy, Distillation, Distillation apparatus, Gold--Therapeutic use, Medicine, Alcohol, Alcohol--Synthesis
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Della Theriaca et del Mithridato Libri Due
- 1572
Maranta of Venosa's work on antidotes to poisons. Only engraved title page has been digitized at this time.
- Author Maranta, Bartolomeo, -1571
- Publisher Marcantonio Olmo
- Subject Toxicology
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323 items
Pandora, das ist, Die edleste Gab Gottes
- Pandora, That Is, the Noblest Gift of God
- 1582
First edition. This copy lacks parts of pages 2 and 7 as well as pages 183-184 and 255-256. The missing text on pages 2 and 7 was replaced in handwritten pencil at an unknown date. The work was edited by the physician…
- Author Epimetheus, Franciscus
- Editor Reusner, Hieronymus, b. 1558
- Printer Apiarius, Samuel, -1590
- Subject Alchemy, Medicine, Reusner, Hieronymus, b. 1558, Mythology, Greek, Symbolism in art
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8 items
Tractatus de Corde : item de motu et colore sanguinis, et chyli in eum transitu
- Treatise on the Heart : likewise, on the movement and color of the blood, and the passage of chyle into it
- 1669
Work on the anatomy and physiology of the circulatory system. Explores the structure and function of veins and arteries. Correctly describes the heart as a four-chambered organ and accurately describes the flow of the…
- Author Lower, Richard, 1631-1691
- Publisher Apud Danielem Elzevirium
- Subject Heart, Blood--Circulation, Blood, Cardiovascular system, Veins, Arteries, Medicine, Human anatomy
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8 items
Tractatus Quinque Medico-Physici : quorum primus agit de sal-nitro, et spiritu nitro-aereo. Secundus de respiratione. Tertius de respiratione foetus in utero, et ovo. Quartus de motu musculari, et spiritibus animalibus. Ultimus de rhachitide.
- Five Medical-Physical Treatises : the first of which deals with salt-nitro and spirit of nitro-air. The second on respiration. Third on the respiration of the fetus in the womb and the egg. Fourth on muscular motion and animal spirits. The last on rickets.
- 1674
John Mayow (1643–1679) was an early researcher of respiration and the nature of air. Mayow published tracts on respiration and rickets while studying at Oxford in 1668; in 1674 these were edited and reprinted with three…
- Author Mayow, John, 1641-1679
- Publisher E Theatro Sheldoniano
- Engraver Faithorne, William, 1616-1691
- Subject Physiology, Oxygen--Physiological transport, Oxygen in the body, Respiration, Cardiovascular system, Medicine, Muscles, Fetus--Development, Combustion, Oxygen
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College of Physicians
- 1724
- Publisher Bowles, John, 1701-1779
- Subject Medicine, Royal College of Physicians of London, Medical offices
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2 items
Bleeding bowl
- 1752
Bowls like this one were used to catch the blood released by bleeding. The appearance of blood was a useful diagnostic tool for physicians, who examined it for clues about the body's internal state. This large bowl was…
- Subject Medicine, Bloodletting, Blood, Phlebotomy
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2 items
Can of Langlebert's Psyllium Seeds
- 1800s
Gold painted metal can and lid both with extensive dark blue lettering and decoration.The main label reads "LANGLEBERT'S PSYLLIUM SEEDS." The can is full of small brown psyllium seeds, a source of soluble dietary fiber.
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22 items
An Essay on the Chemical History and Medical Treatment of Calculous Disorders
- 1819
Alexander Marcet (1770-1822) was a Genevan physician who specialized in urinary calculi. Marcet was one of few medical practitioners of the time who used chemistry in their explanation and treatment of disease. He was…
- Author Marcet, Alexander, 1770-1822
- Publisher Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown
- Subject Calculi, Urinary organs--Calculi, Gallstones, Kidneys--Calculi, Bladder--Calculi, Therapeutics, Medicine, Urology
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2 items
A Treatise on Adulterations of Food, and Culinary Poisons
- 1820
The cover and title page are digitized from the first edition of this seminal work responsible for exposing dangerous adulterations to foods and beverages. Food and drug purity legislation followed later in the…
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Surgeon operating on a man's foot
- At the Alchemist
- Circa 1820 – circa 1870
In a small workshop a medical alchemist tends to the foot of a seated patient while the man's wife and child look on. At left, an assistant grinds a substance--likely a medicine or salve--in a small mortar and pestle.…
- After Teniers, David, 1610-1690
- Subject Medicine and art, Medicine, Alchemy, Alchemy in art
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A Treatise on Adulterations of Food, and Culinary Poisons
- 1822
The title page is digitized from the fourth edition of this seminal work responsible for exposing dangerous adulterations to foods and beverages. Food and drug purity legislation followed later in the nineteenth…
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48 items
Notes on lecture by Matthieu Orfila in Paris
- 1834
Lecture notes recorded by Jean-Baptiste-Alexandre Stroehlin in Paris when he attended lectures given by Matthieu Orfila. The lectures are organized around specific chemicals, thus there are headings such as "Carbonates"…
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Free-blown glass breast pump
- 1850s
Long stem, round bottom flask with custom flange. Needle-size hole on opposite side of flange allows for release of pressure.
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186 items
E.F. Carey pharmacopeia
- 1863 – 1875
This notebook contains recipes and formulas developed or copied by E. F. Carey while working as an assistant pharmacist in Rhode Island and as the owner operator of a pharmacy in Massachusetts between 1863 and 1875.…
- Author Carey, E. F.
- Subject Medicine, Pharmacopoeias, Pharmacy, Patent medicines
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Medico-galvanic Battery
- 1870 – 1900
Diagram depicting a medico-galvanic battery, a type of portable shock-producing electrotherapeutic device commonly in use between 1870 and 1920. Such devices provided both direct and alternating current and were thought…
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Strychnine Sulfate Tablets
- After 1870 – before 1910
Bottle of Strychnine Sulfate tablets in a brown glass bottle with cork top closure.
Strychnine is a highly toxic, colorless, crystalline alkaloid used today as a pesticide for rodents or birds. When inhaled, swallowed,…
- Creator Of Work Eli Lilly and Company
- Subject Strychnine, Strychnine--Toxicology, Drugs, Eli Lilly and Company
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2 items
Tailby-Nason's Mentho-Terpenol Pain Reliever
- After 1880 – before 1970
Blue glass bottle, stained by residue from its contents, with metal screw cap lid and white paper label. The topical ointment once held in this bottle was intended for pain relief. According to the label, the ointment…
- Creator Of Work Tailby-Nason Company
- Subject Analgesics, Drugs, Quacks and quackery, Tailby-Nason Company
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4 items
Hanson's Magic Corn Salve
- After 1884 – before 1925
Small orange box containing a topical rub intended to treat corns, bunions, and warts.
Willis Tracy Hanson, Sr. (1858-1933) was a New York businessman known for selling patent medicines. These remedies could be…
- Manufacturer W.T. Hanson Co.
- Subject Drugs, W.T. Hanson Co., Quacks and quackery, Pharmaceutical industry, Warts, Bunion
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15 items
Drugs and medicines of North America
- A quarterly devoted to the historical and scientific discussion of the botany, pharmacy, chemistry and the therapeutics of the medicinal plants of North America, their constituents, products and sophistications
- 1884-Apr – 1887-Jun
Select plates digitized including drawings of plant specimens, maps illustrating locale of plant specimens as well as magnified illustrations of plant parts.
- Creator Of Work Lloyd, C. G. (Curtis Gates), 1859-1926, Lloyd, John Uri, 1849-1936
- Subject Botany, Medical, Phytogeography, Pharmacy, Drugs, Materia medica
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The Pasteur Boom—High Times for Hydrophobists
- 1885-Dec-23
Featured on the back cover of Puck magazine, this cartoon entitled "The Pasteur Boom—High Times for Hydrophobists" mocks those who traveled to France to receive Louis Pasteur's (1822-1895) new vaccine for the rabies…
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The Agnew Clinic
- Circa 1889
This photogravure by Gebbie & Husson Co. Ltd. reproduces Thomas Eakins' painting known as The Agnew Clinic (or The Clinic of Dr. Agnew). Eakins was commissioned by the University of Pennsylvania Medical Class of 1889 to…
- After Eakins, Thomas, 1844-1916
- Creator Of Work Gebbie & Husson Co. Ltd.
- Subject Women--Health and hygiene, Eakins, Thomas, 1844-1916, Women's health services, White, J. William (James William), 1850-1916, Surgery--Study and teaching, Nurses, Lumpectomy, Medical students, Gebbie & Husson Co. Ltd., Agnew, D. Hayes (David Hayes), 1818-1892, Medicine--Study and teaching, University of Pennsylvania. Hospital, Women in medicine