General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

2

AKA

tray or base

Patents

N/A

General Description

brass, mahogany and leather components.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

31.2 cm

Width

14.4 cm

Height

2.7 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Medical Technology

Category

Pharmacology

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Unknown

Country

England

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

This example used 1847- 1889. This type used mid-late 1800s- early 1900s.

Canada

Part of a large collection of medical artifacts, archival material & trade literature transferred to CSTM in 2002 from the former History of Medicine Museum, Toronto, ON.

Function

USED TO CUT AND FORM PILLS.

Technical

EXAMPLE OF PILL ROLLER, ITEM USED IN 19TH C. PILL MASS OR MIXTURE OF INGREDIENTS WAS MIXED & FORMED WITH A MORTAR & PESTLE. THE MASS WAS REMOVED FROM THE MORTAR, AND WORKED BY HAND INTO A SHORT, CYLINDRICAL SHAPE, PLACED ON THE TRAY OF THE PILL MACHINE & ROLLED UNTIL ITS LENGTH CORRESPONDED TO THE NUMBER OF DIVISIONS ON THE PILL MAKING MACHINE. THE "PIPE" HAD TO BE OF UNIFORM DIAMETER, AND THE ENDS KEPT SQUARE. THE PIPE WAS THEN PLACED ON THE CUTTING SECTION & CUT INTO PIECES. THE PILLS WERE ROLLED UNDER A PILL FINISHER TO SMOOTH THEM.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

"6" and "12" stamped into scale below pill slots; "XII" stamped into underside of wood base. UHN catalogue no. "X934.6.7A" printed by hand in white ink on underside of base.

Missing

Hole and loss of surrounding wood in roller base.

Finish

Mahogany wood base; brass fittings; brown leather band secured to board with metal (brass) nails.

Decoration

N/A