Page 12 - Pharmacy History 37 Nov 2009

he could continue his engagement
in charity and civic advancement as his primary focus. He helped found the organisation that became the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, was the primary patron of Indiana’s branch of the Charity Organisation Society, and personally funded
the creation of the city’s children’s hospital which was later expanded
by the state to become the Riley Children’s Hospital. He continued his active involvement with many
organizations until his death from cancer in 1898.
Lilly was an advocate of federal regulation of the pharmaceutical industry, and many of his suggested reforms were enacted into law in 1906, resulting in the creation of the Food and Drug Administration. He was also among the pioneers
of the concept of prescriptions,
and helped form what became the common practice of giving addictive or dangerous medicines only to
people who had first seen a physician. The company he founded has since grown into one of the largest and most influential pharmaceutical corporations in the world, and the largest corporation in Indiana. Using the wealth generated by the company, his son and grandsons created
the Lilly Endowment to continue Lilly’s legacy of philanthropy. The endowment remains one of the largest charitable benefactors in the world.
The home treasure chest
Ian Milford
In the 19th century middle class homes relied on the medicine chest with its range of medications, apparatus for measuring and mixing the selected drugs and usually an instruction manual to guide the use of often very potent substances to relieve pain and discomfort before the family doctor could be summoned.
The contents of the medicine chest faithfully reflect the orthodox medical approach of the period.
This illustration (right) depicts a common type of chest that was mostly mass produced to be sold
in pharmacies as a stock item. In itinerant families the medicine chest often required refilling and this is
an indicator of the most common treatments and also the extent of the population movements.
This medicine chest has 16 different medications which are:
Indian rhubarb
Sulphate of quinine
Sweet sp. nitre
Calcined magnesia
Conc fluid extract of senna Stomachic powder
Dr Bow’s liniment
Sp sal. volatile
Tincture of iodine Sulphate of zinc
Blistering lotion Laudanum
There are also two small booklets, one titled:
General Complaints Their Treatment - Twelve Remedies
Abridged from the Homeopathic Domestic Medicine By Dr Laurie
London, J Leath 9 vere St, Oxford St, and 5 St Paul’s Churchyard
Printed by JE Adlard Barthomew Close.
The other booklet is Squires companion to the medicine chest. Second Edition 1868.
In addition there are three containers bearing the label ‘Duncan Flockhart & Co Edinburgh’ which would have been refills of the original contents.
12 Pharmacy History Australia
volume 5 no 37 NOVEMBER 2009