On Making a Medicine Chest

[Captain Jim]

From the description I would call the drawing boxes something like a till in a sea chest, a box on rails that can be slid from side to side or removed in order to access something below or load something that is taller than the bottom of the sliding box. Sort of a half-sized tray. If, however, you have loaded something tall that gets in the way of sliding the box to an open area (out from under other drawing boxes) then you would have to remove these from the chest first. Hanging drawers I would call lift-out trays. Basically the writer is admonishing against setting bottles and whatnot unattended and unsupported on tables or deck and suggests full trays as opposed to sliding half-trays.

[Mission]

See, I knew you would know, Jim! (I have been working with him on a plaster box and his knowledge of period boxes and woodworking is unparalleled in my experience.) The way you explain it makes such sense! That would also explain why the thing would be called a hanging drawer - it hangs like an insert and slides like a drawer. (So I stand corrected on that point.)

It gives us a bit more insight into the way these things were being made during period. It also tells us that there was no such thing as a "standard" medicine chest. I sort of figured this anyhow, but this actually backs up my unsupported thoughts on the topic. Of course John Woodall was making chests for both the EIC and the BRN at one point, but I suspect even he made changes between one lot and another. Besides that was 50 years before the GAoP.

[Mission]

I finally sat down and researched medicine containers used by the sea surgeon, an important part of making a medicine chest. You can find the article here.

[Chirurgery93]

Anyone have any new medical chests they've built? I really am interested in designing one that works for this era/Rev War as a regimental chest as well

[Mission]

I found several that were about what I'd expect using Google Image search. Medicine chests for land would have typically been smaller than those for sea because there would be much greater opportunity to refill them as well as to procure anything that they might not have in them.

I really like the one in the link below. (I wish I could see the whole thing.) It's no where near big enough for GAoP sea service, but the design looks neat.

https://www.delawarepublic.org/culture-lifestyle-sports/2017-04-23/historic-medicine-chest-sheds-light-on-connection-of-first-state-surgeons-politicians
 

[Mary Diamond]

44 minutes ago, Mission said:

I found several that were about what I'd expect using Google Image search. Medicine chests for land would have typically been smaller than those for sea because there would be much greater opportunity to refill them as well as to procure anything that they might not have in them.

I really like the one in the link below. (I wish I could see the whole thing.) It's no where near big enough for GAoP sea service, but the design looks neat.

https://www.delawarepublic.org/culture-lifestyle-sports/2017-04-23/historic-medicine-chest-sheds-light-on-connection-of-first-state-surgeons-politicians
 

That chest is interesting, in that the top lid appears square, which does not appear reflected in the apparent depth of the front door section. Perhaps it is 2-sided? Or the top compartment is partially full depth to the drawers (or lower), for tools or taller bottles?

 

*Edit - addition* Ah, yes, upon review of the article and additional photo, the upper compartment is more visible, and appears to be limited, whereas back hinges are clearly visible, indicating a 2nd door.

[Chirurgery93]

On 3/16/2023 at 2:33 PM, Mission said:

I found several that were about what I'd expect using Google Image search. Medicine chests for land would have typically been smaller than those for sea because there would be much greater opportunity to refill them as well as to procure anything that they might not have in them.

I really like the one in the link below. (I wish I could see the whole thing.) It's no where near big enough for GAoP sea service, but the design looks neat.

https://www.delawarepublic.org/culture-lifestyle-sports/2017-04-23/historic-medicine-chest-sheds-light-on-connection-of-first-state-surgeons-politicians
 

Thanks and sorry for late reply! That’s similar to the jewelry box ones I have. I imagine this is as close as I can get for the time being . 

[LadyBarbossa]

Has anyone found those type of bottles? And labels... anyone find labels on late 17th and early 18th c bottles? 

[Mission]

I mentioned it above, but I have an article about medicine containers which contains a section on labels. You will find it here:

http://www.piratesurgeon.com/pages/surgeon_pages/medicine_containers1.html

I found square-bottomed bottles years ago, although I don't remember where. To get the exactly correct as described in the article would be difficult. You'd almost certainly have to find someone who made them themselves and would agree to make them of flint or green glass, double dipped with square bottoms. (Expensive.) Since most people are more interested in what's inside the bottle, the more reasonable way would be to find a fairly good proxy that was mass produced since you want a bunch of matching bottles.

[madPete]

hobby lobby has square glass bottles, but I didnt see colored. I'm not sure how period looking they really are but you could certainly get sets there

[Mission]

I actually found a link to some bottles I was looking at. 

https://www.specialtybottle.com/glass-bottles/corked/250ml-cksq250
 

BTW, green glass bottles are not dark green, they're basically clear bottles with a green tint. The clearer a glass was, the more desirable it was considered because you could see what was in it. However, truly clear glass was harder to make, so it was more expensive.

Here is a link to a green glass bottle:

http://www.piratesurgeon.com/pages/surgeon_pages/images/green_glass_medicine_bottle_broken_lip.jpg
 

[Mary Diamond]

5 hours ago, Mission said:

I actually found a link to some bottles I was looking at. 

https://www.specialtybottle.com/glass-bottles/corked/250ml-cksq250
 

BTW, green glass bottles are not dark green, they're basically clear bottles with a green tint. The clearer a glass was, the more desirable it was considered because you could see what was in it. However, truly clear glass was harder to make, so it was more expensive.

Here is a link to a green glass bottle:

http://www.piratesurgeon.com/pages/surgeon_pages/images/green_glass_medicine_bottle_broken_lip.jpg
 

Had you considered recreating the green glass appearance with glass paint? I have used Pebeo to repair my WWII tin mug, and and happy to recommend them. You may wish to consider the Emerald color, thinned, to recreate the green glass color.

https://en.pebeo.com/catalogue/loisirs-creatifs/couleurs-decoration/v160-colours

https://www.dickblick.com/items/pebeo-vitrea-160-glass-paint-emerald-glossy-45-ml-bottle/

[Mission]

That would be worth trying, although I gave up on the medicine chest project years ago because it would be too heavy and delicate to be worth shipping to events. The little chest your father made for me works just fine for long-distance transport. (And even that, packed with bubble wrap and such has still resulted in several broken bottles. Shipping companies view fragile signs as a challenge. In fact, I was once told by someone who worked for a shipping company NOT to put fragile labels on boxes.)

[LadyBarbossa]

Ooooooooooo 😉🏴‍☠️