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SACCH LACTIS
From the collection of National Museum of American History. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
This blown and molded square-shaped bottle has an unusally wide neck, a flared lip, and a large round stopper. The number 32 has been etched into the stopper. The baked white enamel shield is framed by stylized blue leaves with yellow and red flowers. A yellow crown sits atop the shield. The jar is marked with the alchemical symbol for powder. It is also marked <i>SACCH LACTIS</i> in black below it. The jar contained a powdered form of <i>Saccharum Lactis</i>, Latin for sugar milk, or lactose, which was used to dilute other drugs. It was also used as a diuretic and is still used today in homeopathic preparations.
National Museum of American History’s own descriptionCredit lineSACCH LACTIS. 18th century. National Museum of American History, Gift of American Pharmaceutical Association and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. CC0.
