London chemist: prescription-Books

Collection of Prescription-books of an unidentified London [Islington?] Chemist. From an entry inside the fly-leaf of Vol. 10, it appears that these prescription-books were commenced in 1835. The name of the firm responsible for this collection has not been ascertained, and has not been found in any of the volumes, but from the names of physicians appended to many of the prescriptions it seems to have been in Islington or in that part of London, for a large proportion of these are associated with the Islington Dispensary. Among these are many entries for Henry Bateman, F.R.C.S. [1806-1880] who was surgeon and later consulting surgeon to that institution. [Cf. Obituary notice in the Lancet 1880, ii, p. 874.] Pasted inside the upper cover of Vol. 18 [1861-1863] is a cut-out signature of Florence Nightingale [1820-1910]. Pasted inside the upper and lower covers of Vol. 27 [1884-1888], are two printed advertisements of J. Ramel, Crosby Hall Chamber, 24 Bishopsgate St., who describes himself as a 'Sanitary India-Rubber and Chirurgical Instruments Manufacturer and Importer'. One of the lists includes contraceptives. They are here entered as 'F.L.s', priced at from 6/6 per gross: there are also 'Marguerites'-for use by women-at 2/- each. Produced in London.

1845-1888

19 volumes 19 vols. tall 8vo., 4to. [vol. 24] v.s. Original cloth or calf bindings over wooden boards. Vol. 13 is damaged by damp at the beginning: some leaves in the middle of Vol. 14 are badly stained by chemicals. The set consists of Vols. 8-27, of which Vol. 21 (for 1867-1869) is wanting.

Purchased 1931.

Described in: S.A.J. Moorat, "Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library" (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).