Bottle once containing medication from Brearey's chemist shop
Date made: 19th century
Description: This medicine bottle is from the chemist's shop of W.A. Brearey in Douglas. Brearey opened his first shop in Douglas in 1840. By 1892 the business occupied an impressive three storey building on Prospect Hill, and numbered among its clientele the more fashionable members of Douglas society. Brearey, who had undertaken his pharmacy training in London, was equally well known for his perfumes which he created himself.
The bottle is of clear glass with a rounded top. The label has gilt letters on a white shield, which reads: Pulv.Cinnam.Ver. This is abbreviated Latin, the technical language of pharmacy. Pulvis indicates that the contents are in powder form, whilst Cinnamon was commonly used for its aromatic properties.
By the 19th century, pharmacy had alongside medicine become a serious scientific discipline. Prescriptions however were not necessary and many people today would be surprised by the number of opiates and poisons which were freely available over the counter.
Measurements: overall: 29 x 10 cm
Materials: glass
Object name: bottle
Collection: Social History Collection
ID Number: 1967-0251/d
Subject tags : #MM100COLLECTIONS