Green glass dropper bottle, Roman, 100-500 CE

Bottle of Behring's diphtheria remedy, Germany, 1914-1918

Brown glass bottle of ‘multigland liquor’, London, England,

Ethyl chloride spray, United Kingdom, 1925-1940

Blue measuring cyliners

Glass bottle for 'Progynon' pills, United Kingdom, 1928-1948

Bottle of extract of nux vomica, London, England, 1794-1930

Bottle of water from the River Jordan, collected 1930

Bottle of quinine hydrochloride tablets, London, England, 19

Bottle of medicinal water, France, 1928

concept

Shop

Galleries and Reading Room

Library

Café

We’re undertaking research with website visitors to find out some more about you and what you thought about your visit. This survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete. Thank you for your time!

What brought you to our website today?

The ‘Fountain of Youth’, like the so-called ‘Elixir of Life’ and the ‘Well of Eternal Youth’ is one of a number of myths that relate to the acquiring of eternal life. Such ideas are common across cultures and throughout history up to the present day. 

One ‘Fountain of Youth’ was sought by early European visitors to what is now Florida. A Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de León, who accompanied Christopher Columbus to the Americas, set out to find the ‘Fountain of Youth’ in 1513. His hunt was unsuccessful but a popular tourist site known as St Augustine marks the place where Spanish conquistadors first came ashore. For over 100 years, people have visited the spring to drink the waters – which are said to have medicinal qualities – and hear the legend of Juan Ponce de León

maker: Owens Bottle Company

Place made: Toledo, Lucas county, Ohio, United States, St. Augustine, Saint Johns county, Florida, United States

Bottle of medicinal water from the 'Fountain of Youth', Unit

Two blue measuring cylinders, made of glass, one with Roman numerals and the other with numbers.

A ‘cerebral sedative’ medication is contained in this glass bottle. It was manufactured by American firm Parke, Davis and Company in London. Adults were instructed to take ‘half to one fluid drachms’ diluted in water. This is equivalent to about a teaspoonful. The cerebral sedative was meant to calm the mind and relieve stress and anxiety. It acted upon the cerebellum. This part of the brain is responsible for motor skills and, to some extent, emotions. The sedative was typical of stress-relieving remedies sold ‘over the counter’ in chemists across the country during the 20th century.

maker: Parke, Davis and Company Limited

Place made: London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom

Bottle of compound cerebral sedative, London, England,1891-1

Sodium amytal is a strong sedative drug that is sometimes used to treat severe insomnia in patients who are already taking barbiturates – often for mental health problems.

It is a drug with a controversial history. It was used in the Second World War by some medics to send soldiers who were exhausted and traumatised by their experiences into a deep therapeutic sleep. However, it has also been described as a ‘truth serum’ and used during interrogations. Once a sedated, hypnotic state is induced, the subject is said to be more suggestible and less able to retain information they may wish to keep secret.

maker: Eli Lilly and Company Limited

Place made: Basingstoke, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

Bottle of sodium amytal, England, 1960-1975

Belladonna or Deadly Nightshade is a plant whose name suggests it is poisonous. However, the roots and leaves have medicinal qualities – the leaves are a narcotic to induce sleep, and can be used as a diuretic and as a muscle relaxant. The roots and leaves were also used for plasters to relieve aches and pains. The cobalt blue coloured glass was blown with a ridged design. It is thought that poison bottles had distinctive textures and colours so they could easily be identified by touch and by sight.

A tincture is an alcoholic solution of a medicine.

maker: Unknown maker

Place made: England, United Kingdom

Wellcome uses cookies.

Bottle

Images

Works

Bottle of medicinal water from the 'Fountain of Youth', Unit

Blue measuring cyliners

Bottle of compound cerebral sedative, London, England,1891-1

Bottle of sodium amytal, England, 1960-1975

Glass bottle used for tincture of belladonna, England, 1880-

Today’s opening times

Wellcome uses cookies.

Bottle

Images

Works

Bottle of medicinal water from the 'Fountain of Youth', Unit

Blue measuring cyliners

Bottle of compound cerebral sedative, London, England,1891-1

Bottle of sodium amytal, England, 1960-1975

Glass bottle used for tincture of belladonna, England, 1880-

Wellcome Collection

Today’s opening times