Download Selection of specimens from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Collection Crude Drugs

Selection of specimens from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Collection
Crude Drugs
Selection of crude drugs from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society collection at Kew
The photo shows a sample of the types of crude drugs included in the Royal
Pharmaceutical Society's donation to Kew. Clockwise from the left, the samples are:
SOLANACEAE Cestrum pseudo-quina. This piece of bark was presented to the
Pharmaceutical Society in 1885 by Brommer JE Brussels. It was collected by
Martius. Current medical botanical literature describes this plant as being an
effective febrifuge; a medicine that can lower the body temperature to alleviate a
fever. EBC 47851
LABIATAE Salvia rugos. This specimen was donated to the Pharmaceutical Society
in 1886 by the Colonial and Indian Exhibition. It comes from the Cape of Good Hope,
South Africa. EBC 47706
ACANTHACEAE Ruellia ciliosa, also called 'spurious Indian pink root'. These roots
were presented to the Society by the Dean of the School of Pharmacy and
longstanding member of the Pharmaceutical Society, Professor Henry Greenish.
Greenish was Dean from 1914 until 1933. EBC 47668
PROTEACEAE Grevillea robusta (silky-oak). This gum sample was donated to the
Pharmaceutical Society in 1900 by Lewis & Peat, Brokers 6 Mincing Lane. It comes
from Australia. EBC 46683
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Crude Drugs
Selection of crude drugs from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society collection at Kew
The photo shows a sample of the types of crude drugs included in the Royal
Pharmaceutical Society's donation to Kew. The following medicinal uses for these
plants come from Theophilus Redwood's Supplement to the Pharmacopoeia (1857).
The samples from top left, clockwise are:
JUGLANDACEAE Juglans regia. These English walnut leaves were presented to the
Pharmaceutical Society in 1934 by CW Maplethorpe, they were collected by KP
Shipkoff in Bulgaria. The label reads ‘Allen and Hanbury Ware.' The leaves of the
English walnut are detersive, diaphoretic, anti-arthritic and anti-syphilitic. Other parts
of the plants can be used against diseases of the lungs as well as a sweetener for
food. EBC 42074
MORACEAE Ficus pumila. These climbing fig fruits come from Argentina. They were
presented to the Society by Dr. A Henry. The fruits are eaten and can be made into a
jelly. The label reads; ‘The jelly soon melts'. EBC 42110
SALICACEAE Populus balsamifera. The buds of this poplar tree yield a resinous
excretion which is said to be diuretic and a remedy for scurvy. EBC 42105
EUPHORBIACEAE Pedilanthus pavonis. Candelilla wax from Mexico is an example
of the many items included in the Pharmaceutical Museum's collection that held
more than just medicinal properties. Many were also substances of commercial
value or potential commercial value. An excerpt from the Pharmaceutical Journal
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dated October 24, 1911, accompanying the artefact states that the wax could be
powdered by pounding and was then soluble in turpentine. It could be used as a
lacquer and in making telephone cables. EBC 42268
Spirit Collection
Selection of bottled crude drugs from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society collection at Kew
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Bottled Crude Drugs
Selection of bottled crude drugs from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society collection at Kew
This photo displays some crude drugs from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's
donation in their original bottles. The following medicinal uses for these plants come
from Theophilus Redwood's Supplement to the Pharmacopoeia (1857). From left to
right the specimens are as follows;
ASCLEPIADACEAE. These simoru roots from Tropical East Africa were presented
to the Pharmaceutical Society in 1913 by WJ Bush and Co. EBC 77445
COMPOSITAE Artemesia anomala. These flowers came to the Pharmaceutical
Society from the Singapore Collection. This plant was used in Chinese medicine,
where it was called chi nu, liu ji nu, nan liu ji nu or qi hao. EBC 77108
CONVOLVULACEAE Operculina turpethum. These white turpeth root samples were
given to the Society by the British Drug Houses in 1923. They come from India. The
root bark of this species was with milk and used as a purgative in India, though
Europeans in the 19th century were undecided as to the true action of this plant.
EBC 77414
COMPOSITAE Carthamus tinctorius. These safflower cakes come from Calcutta.
They were presented to the Pharmaceutical Society by Mather. The inflorescence of
this plant was used to colour broths or in dyeing. The red colour it yields was used in
cosmetics as rouge. The seeds also have purgative properties. EBC 51803
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