The Science and Art of Medicine

Ede's portable chemical laboratory with 14 labelled bottles and 46 labelled boxes of samples, by R.B. Ede, English, 1840-1900

• R B Ede's portable laboratory, English, 1840-1900.

Alchemist's digesting furnace, or anthanot, stoneware, German, 1501-1700

• Alchemical furnace and iron mannequin, 1501-1700.

Italian pharmacy vase, 18th century polychrome maiolica made at Castelli, used for lily water

• Two pharmacy jars, 18th century.

This particular straight stem pessary (illustrated in the top row on the far right) is made out of glass. Stem pessaries are intra-uterine devices.

• Stem pessaries, early 20th century.

This instrument was used for making traction on the foetus during childbirth. It is thought to be composed of whalebone and was manufactured by Wood of York.

• Double obstetrical fillet, 1851-1900.

These items are also referred to as Sea-Tangle tents and are a genus of seaweed. Each �tent� is a cylinder about 5-10 cm long made from the dried stalk of the marine plant Laminaria digitata. They are inserted into the cervical canal when they are dr

• Box of laminaria tents, 1871-1900.

A stick of moxibustion herbs wrapped in paper. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, moxibustion treatment gives heat to a point on the body, which makes qi energy flow smoothly. The herbs can be burned on or close to the skin, or on top of acu

• Moxibustion stick, China, 1988

Elaborate posset pot, tin glazed earthenware, cherub and songbird motifs, English

• Posset pot, English, c 1700.

Made from the wood and bark of the trees they pictured, the panel depicts a plant which is important in Japanese culture.

• Painted wooden panel of Asian Pear, Japan

Albarello vase, Italian, from Rome or Deruta, 1641, polychrome maiolica, used for theriaca by the Jesuits

• Albarello drug jar, Italian, 1641, and a copy of "Gerarde's Herball", 1633.