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This drug jar is labelled “DIASCORD”, an abbreviation of the full Latin name Diascodrium. This translates as “water germander”, which was a thick liquid medical preparation (known as an electuary) that had a similar consistency to honey. It contained a range of ingredients and existed in a variety of different recipes – some including opium. Among the conditions it was at times used to treat were diarrhoea, dysentery, plague, colic and fevers. It could induce sleep and was recommended for women during childbirth. 

Drug jars have a number of different shapes, design motifs and decorative styles which can help date the objects. Although quite crude in design, the face of the winged cherub – a feature of numerous drug jars – is quite realistic. Elsewhere a songbird motif and peacock feathers can be seen.

maker: Unknown maker

Place made: England, United Kingdom

Drug jar for Water Germander electuary, England, 1720-1780

Scanning electron micrograph of Giardia, computer-coloured purple on blue. This parasitic protozoan inhabits the human small intestine. It is usually harmless, but may cause diarrhoea (giardiasis). It has two nuclei, four pairs of undulipodia, and two sucking discs for attaching to the intestine wall.

SEM of Giardia

Campylobacter, scanning electron micrograph. This genus of Gram-negative bacteria is a common cause of food poisoning, causing diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and headaches.

SEM of Campylobacter

This earthenware jar was used to store cinchona bark. Cinchona was used to prevent heavy bleeding and diarrhoea but is better known as a source of quinine. The active ingredient of cinchona bark, quinine was used for pain relief and to prevent fevers but was primarily a treatment for malaria. 

The jar is painted with the figures of the Christian Apostles (the twelve original followers of Jesus) and is believed to be from the Castelli region of Italy.

maker: Unknown maker

Place made: Castelli, Teramo, Abruzzi, Italy

Drug jar for cinchona bark, Italy, 1701-1730

This pair of images demonstrates how a disease-causing strain of E. coli bacteria brings about diarrhoea by breaking down the waterproof barriers between the cells. First of all the bacteria, seen as small red dots, attach to the surface of intestinal cells, making tiny pedestals out of one of the cell's own proteins (bright green). Once attached, the bacteria send signals into the cells, causing the tight junctions (blue) between the cells to break down. Water is then able to seep out between the cells into the intestine, leading to diarrhoea. The image on the top shows an early stage in the process where the tight junctions are still intact and show as continuous blue lines between the cells. The image on the bottom is taken later in the process, once the tight junctions have broken down. Their remnants appear as blue dots.

How E. coli causes diarrhoea

A colour-enhanced image showing a cluster of Clostridium difficile on a surface. Wellcome Image Awards 2008.

Clostridium difficile

The small red dots are enteropathogenic E. coli bacteria attaching to the surface of human intestinal cells in culture. During this process they sequester the actin (greeen) in the host cell to form actin-rich pedestals. This tends to give the appearance of a green halo around the bacteria. Once attached, the bacteria cause the tight junctions (blue) between the cells to break down, leading to the leakage of water into the intestine and consequent diarrhoea.

Enteropathogenic E. coli on human intestinal cells

The small red dots are enteropathogenic E. coli bacteria attaching to the surface of human intestinal cells in culture. During this process they sequester the actin (greeen) in the host cell to form actin-rich pedestals. This tends to give the appearance of a green halo around the bacteria. Once attached, the bacteria cause the tight junctions (blue) between the cells to break down, leading to the leakage of water into the intestine and consequent diarrhoea. Wellcome Image Awards 2008.

Schistosoma mansoni are a species of parasitic flatworm (trematode) found in freshwater habitats in tropical and subtropical areas. They are responsible for causing schistosomiasis (bilharzia).



Humans are infected when their skin comes into contact with S. mansoni larvae in contaminated water. The larvae develop into adult worms which live in the blood vessels. Female worms release eggs which can be passed out of the body in urine or faeces to continue transmission, or which can become trapped in body tissues causing further tissue damage. Schistosomiasis presents symptoms including diarrhoea and blood in the stool and urine, and can lead to infertility, liver enlargement and bladder cancer. It can also cause stunted growth and learning difficulties in children. Schistosomiasis is treatable with the anthelmintic drug praziquante, alongside preventative measures such as increased sanitation and access to clean water.



The male S. mansoni is approximately 0.8cm long

Schistosoma mansoni flatworm, male with female

A genus of Australian trees of the Myrtaceae family that yields gums, oils, and resins which are used as flavoring agents, astringents, and aromatics, and formerly to treat diarrheoa, asthma, bronchitis, and respiratory tract infections. The flowers are favoured by bees and eucalyptus honey retains the properties of the plant. Used to be grown extensively in malarial areas in the belief that it would combat the recurring fever. Small stem of tree with young blue-green leaves.

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Drug jar for Water Germander electuary, England, 1720-1780

SEM of Giardia

SEM of Campylobacter

Drug jar for cinchona bark, Italy, 1701-1730

How E. coli causes diarrhoea

Clostridium difficile

Enteropathogenic E. coli on human intestinal cells

Enteropathogenic E. coli on human intestinal cells

Schistosoma mansoni flatworm, male with female

Eucalyptus sp. (Eucalyptus)

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Drug jar for Water Germander electuary, England, 1720-1780

SEM of Giardia

SEM of Campylobacter

Drug jar for cinchona bark, Italy, 1701-1730

How E. coli causes diarrhoea

Clostridium difficile

Enteropathogenic E. coli on human intestinal cells

Enteropathogenic E. coli on human intestinal cells

Schistosoma mansoni flatworm, male with female

Eucalyptus sp. (Eucalyptus)

Stay in the know

Wellcome collectionWellcome Collection

Finding us:

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Today's opening times

Wellcome collection