Pills & Potions at the Cotter Medical History Trust

2014
ISBN: 978-1877578571 

Gauze containing ‘double cyanide of mercury and zinc’ … Fletcher’s Phosphatonic to ‘put your nerves right in a jiffy’ …

In this fascinating and by turns alarming book, Claire Le Couteur has researched the background to some of the popular medical remedies in New Zealand’s medical history, based on items found in the collection of the Cotter Medical History Trust.

The Cotter Trust was established in Christchurch by retired surgeon Pat Cotter, with the aim ‘to collect, preserve and display artefacts of a medical nature.’ It now holds the largest collection in the country of biographical notes of doctors, dentists, technical, managerial, administrative and nursing staff who have worked in Canterbury. This is augmented by a museum of historical medical implements and equipment, medicines and pharmacy equipment, photographs, documents, memorabilia and books. 

Pills & Potions is a collector’s dream.