CC0 · no rights reserved
Ungula Alcis
From the collection of National Museum of American History. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Wooden drug jars are rare. In the Squibb Ancient Pharmacy Catalogue George Urdang notes in the <i>Squibb Ancient Pharmacy Catalogue</i> that the inscription placed just below the lid dates this object to the 17th century. The label reads “Ungula Alcis”, which is elk’s hoof. This wooden drug jar would originally have contained powdered elk’s hoof to prevent seizures from epilepsy. Some suffers wore a piece of elks hoof around their neck.
National Museum of American History’s own descriptionCredit lineUngula Alcis. 17th century. National Museum of American History, Gift of American Pharmaceutical Association and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. CC0.
