Precious apothecary ingredients

The new temporary exhibition at the History of Pharmacy Collection in Cluj, entitled "Gold and gems", is actually about many other interesting fact about the history of pharmacy, alchemy and snobbery. It tells the story of gold, silver, and gem powder as universal medicines, of the advantages of gilding or silvering pills, of black epileptic powders that contained precious red coral, mother of pearl and crushed narwal tusk, of alcoholic tonics that contained saffron and flecks of gold, but also of ingredients making reference to precious metals, such as Orpiment (arsenic yellow powder) and the Golden citrus (bitter orange).

Don't miss the exhibition that will be open until the end of this year.

Cordial waters contained saffron and flecks of gold

Crocus sativus or Saffron Crocus, the most expensive of spices, reaching the price of gold

The Gold Pigment - Orpiment

Gold leaf and Avicenna's pills

Gold and silver uses in homeopathy - a theory born in Transylvania

 

 

Precious red coral

Corallium rubrum, or precious red coral, was used both as old apothecary ingredient but also in jewelry. Pharmacists used it as calcium supplement and cure against rachitism, but also as ingredient in several composite medicines, such as the anti-epileptic powders. Due to its preciousness, it is among the few organic materials included in the category of gems. Red coral thus features in the new temporary exhibition entitled "Gold and gems" that opens tomorrow, September 1st, at the History of Pharmacy Collection in Cluj-Napoca.

19th c wooden apothecary jar for red coral

19th century ceramic jar for red coral

natural red coral