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Coca powder - POISON - Antique apothecary bottle - Drug (Cocaine)
  • Coca powder - POISON - Antique apothecary bottle - Drug (Cocaine)
  • Coca powder - POISON - Antique apothecary bottle - Drug (Cocaine)
  • Coca powder - POISON - Antique apothecary bottle - Drug (Cocaine)
  • Coca powder - POISON - Antique apothecary bottle - Drug (Cocaine)
  • Coca powder - POISON - Antique apothecary bottle - Drug (Cocaine)
  • Coca powder - POISON - Antique apothecary bottle - Drug (Cocaine)
  • Coca powder - POISON - Antique apothecary bottle - Drug (Cocaine)
  • Coca powder - POISON - Antique apothecary bottle - Drug (Cocaine)

Coca powder - POISON - Antique apothecary bottle - Apothecary - Drug (Cocaine)

€90.00

Antique apothecary bottle – Coca powder – Late 19th century/Early 20th century

POISON

Coca powder is the source of cocaine, which was the first effective local anaesthetic used in surgery and dentistry.

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Description

Antique pharmacy bottle – Coca powder – Late 19th century/Early 20th century

POISON

This amber glass pharmacy bottle is a fascinating artefact from the pharmacopoeia of days gone by. It features beautiful original labels with a patina, bearing the handwritten inscription ‘Coca pulv:’ (coca leaf powder).

The visual impact is enhanced by two orange and black bands marked ‘POISON’, framed by the famous skull and crossbones, a reminder of the danger and strict regulations surrounding active substances at the time. The bottle is topped with its original metal stopper.

Before being classified as a narcotic and subsequently banned from the pharmacopoeia, coca was a key plant in European medicine, particularly between 1860 and 1920.

Coca powder is the source of cocaine, which was the first effective local anaesthetic used in surgery and dentistry.

The remedy for fatigue: It was used to prepare medicinal wines (such as the famous Vin Mariani), lozenges for sore throats, or powders purported to treat depression, neurasthenia and lethargy. It was praised for its stimulating properties on the nervous and muscular systems.

Appetite suppressant and physical performance: In keeping with traditional Andean practices, it was prescribed to boost physical stamina and reduce feelings of hunger.

By the end of the 19th century, pharmacists were aware of the plant’s toxicity and addictive properties. The bottles were therefore labelled ‘Poison’ to indicate that dispensing was strictly controlled by the pharmacist and kept in the Poison Cabinet.

Diameter 7cm. Height with cap: 22.5cm

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16 other products in the APOTHECARY - ANTIQUE PHARMACY
Portable autopsy kit - Mid-19th century - Maison Charrière - Paris
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Portable autopsy kit from the mid-19th century - Maison...

Portable autopsy kit from the mid-19th century

Maison Charrière in Paris, circa 1845–1870

Mahogany case for autopsy and dissection

Small portable mahogany case containing a set of autopsy instruments: hook hammer, bone chisel, enterotome scissors, probes, hooks and suture needles. Used by forensic scientists and anatomists for opening and examining bodies.

Charrière, a major 19th-century Parisian manufacturer, was a pioneer in the design of high-precision surgical and anatomical instruments.

Mahogany and polished steel: 23 × 11 cm

Please note: crack in the wood under the case

A beautiful object, very rare to find

Price €800.00