Glass bottle with glass stopper contained in the wooden chest with brass handle on top and hinged doors. Contains liquids. Printed label: Tincture of Rhubarb. Rhubarb was one of the safer commonly used 'drugs' of the nineteenth century. A tincture is an alcoholic solution, in this case of dried and powdered rhubarb. Savory in his 1836 'Companion to the Medicine Chest (p.92-93) wrote about it:
“Tincture of Rhubarb. Is an excellent remedy in case of flatulent affection of the bowels attended with griping pains, and in diarrhoea free from inflammation; but it should not be indiscriminately administered in every case of pain in the bowels, on account of the stimulating nature of the spirit with which it is prepared. The dose may vary from four to eighth drachms, mixed with peppermint-water, according to circumstances. Two tea-spoonsful of this tincture, taken an hour before dinner daily, frequently give energy to the stomach, and promote digestion.”
Tincture of Rhubarb, Compound. Is given in doses of from one to two drachms as a cordial stomachic, and from six to eight drachms as a purgative, but under the same restrictions as the above simple tincture.”