Danger in the Dispensary
#SUBHEADING#The horrible and hazardous side to the chemist shop#SUBHEADINGEND# Amongst the wide variety of ingredients used by pharmacists some were extremely dangerous. Until the mid nineteenth century the sale of these was surprisingly unregulated. Those commonly used in medicines included morphine and cocaine, both of which were thought to be safe enough to be sold over the counter. These would be added to remedies prepared by the pharmacist as well as freely available in many patent medicines of the day, such as "Godfrey's Cordial" for babies which contained opium as its key ingredient. As more and more cases of poisoning, (deliberate and accidental) came to light, concern grew around the availability of the substances. Arsenic was the biggest killer and as a result the Arsenic Act of 1851 was introduced. Gradually, stricter rules regarding the sale of poisons began to be enforced and other regulatory acts were issued. Proof of this can be seen behind the counter of Castelow's Chemist shop which is now reconstructed in Hull's Streetlife Museum. Hanging up is a copy of the Dangerous Drugs Act (1920-23) which gives a summary of regulations regarding the sale of poisons. Even with these new restrictions however, they were still available over the counter. Today we know that substances such as these can be very dangerous and so are now completely banned or strictly prescription only. These medicines were easy to spot. The colour of a bottle often indicated what it contained. If they were dangerous then bottles were usually blue or green. It was not only the colour of the bottle that could warn people to be careful. For example, in the nineteenth century all sorts of methods were experimented with such as adding a raised image of skull and crossbones to the bottle or attaching sandpaper, bells, and even spikes! #IMAGE#The technique that became most common however was to use bottles with horizontal or vertical grooves such as this example from behind Castelow's counter. Ingredients were not the only things to be found in the chemist's storage jars, those containing leeches were not an unusual sight. Doctors purchased them in the belief that many illnesses were caused by the patient having too much of the wrong type of blood and that if leeches were applied to the skin they could suck out toxins. This procedure began more than 2500 years ago and was only discontinued in the 1960s and has even had comebacks since then! Doctors were not the only ones who carried out gory procedures on patients. Nineteenth century chemists would carry out tooth extraction on their premises using gruesome implements called 'tooth keys.' These would be used, as the name suggests, by grasping the problem tooth and turning it like a key! Castelow took over the chemist shop in 1907 but it, like him, remained Victorian in appearance. His practices were equally as traditional and who knows, there may have been a leech or someone's extracted tooth lurking behind the counter at one time!
The carboy
Seen in many a chemist shop window, the carboy was an impressive symbol of the pharmaceutical profession. There was a range of designs and the coloured liquid contained inside made them an appealing addition to any window display. Read on to discover their origins and uses.
Making the medicines
Whilst there were a number of medicines which were ordered from outside companies, most remedies were composed behind the chemist's counter. It was a time consuming and skilled process. Read on to discover the life of a pill, from mortar to medicine bottle.
159 Woodhouse Lane
Mr Walter Thomas Castelow's shop at 159 Woodhouse Lane was the oldest surviving chemist shop in Leeds when it was demolished for the redevelopment of the University in 1976.
From 159 Woodhouse Lane to Hull Streetlife Museum
When Mr Castelow died at the age of 98 his chemist shop which had stood at 159 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, for 133 years, was to be demolished. Realising the potential loss, Mr Castelow's will provided that the shop's unique contents be preserved within a Yorkshire Museum.
Mr Walter Thomas Castelow
Walter Thomas Castelow was born, 16th January, 1876 in Kirkgate, near Leeds. Castelow was locally educated at Middle Class School, Vernon Road, Leeds, before attending the Yorkshire College, now Leeds University. Working life began in 1894, when at the age of 16 he signed indentures as an apprentice for Messrs. Abbot and Anning, of Fenton Street, Leeds.
Working Life
This section contains stories about the work that people used to do. Some relate to famous Hull companies that are still around today such as Reckitts. Others tell of less well-known craft firms and makers of the past. These include Richardson's furniture company and the goldsmiths of Church Lane. Many Hull soft drink and beer makers used bottles were made that feature Hull landmarks like the Wilberforce Monument. Shops were also important places of work for many.
