Wellcome Export Division Calendar

Wellcome Export Division desk calendar with original packaging. Illustrated with watercolours of plants (by Elisabeth Dowle) and text outlining the origin of the plants and their perceived medicinal value through time. Wellcome products are advertised throughout and are used to demonstrate modern developments in medicine.

For example, in medieval times henbane was regarded as an outward medicine: the smoke from burning leaves was said to quickly heal swellings, chilblains or kibes in the hands or feet; the leaves applied with vinegar to the forehead helped cure headache and small pieces of root were hung around the neck of infants to cause an 'easy breeding of teeth.' The Wellcome product Calpol is advertised on this page to emphasize that an effective, simple modern solution to pain relief is now available, in contrast to the laborious use of henbane in medieval times.

In a similar fashion, thornapple is lauded for curing all manner of burns/scalds in the seventeenth century but the Wellcome product Cicatrin is also advertised on the same page, to highlight a more effective remedy for burns/scalds in modern times.

1983

1 item

Copyright assigned to the Wellcome Trust