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History of Medicines Collection

A collection of published material relating mainly to the history and development of medicines and medicinal science during the 19th and 20th centuries.


Factsheet

Illustration from 'Historie of Plants' by John Gerard(e), 1597
Illustration from 'Historie of Plants' by John Gerard(e), 1597

The collection, assembled over time within the Library from the beginnings of the University, principally comprises pharmacopoeias, and formularies, both British and foreign, but includes some works covering broadersubject areassuch as dispensing, homeopathy, laboratory methods, drug design, professional healthcare and pharmacology. It also contains a number of leaflets and slighter publicationsrelating totopical issues such as radioactive fallout, the effect of regular exposure to automobile exhaustgas and the treatment of 'wound shock'.

The collection contains two earlier works of note. 'Mesue et Omnia Quae Cum Eo Imprimi Consueverunt' published in 1549and an illustrated edition of 'Historie of Plants', also known as 'Gerarde's Herbal', by the botanist John Gerard(e) published in 1597 which contains a large number of fine engravings showing a wide range of plants, fruits and vegetables alongside notes on their medicinal or health-giving properties.

The collection also includes a series of fourunpublished prescription bookscontaining manuscript prescriptions (with recipes) issued by pharmacists between c 1840 and 1942.

Size: Approximately 300 items.

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