W. O. George manuscript medicinal recipe book

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0097-Item 0129

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, resident W. O. George’s nineteenth century manuscript volume comprises approximately fifty pages of handwritten medicinal recipes. These recipes employ chemical (rather than herbal) means for their cures.

Medicinal recipes include formulae to treat conditions such as secondary syphilis, putrid sore mouth, gonorrhea, diarrhea, dropsy, heartburn, coughs, and worms. Most formulae are followed by a name or reference providing the source of the formulae.

The volume also holds a small number of related items. There is evidence that several pages and one partial page were removed from the volume. Two prescriptions, dated 1863 and 1864, and two clippings are affixed at the end of the volume. The prescriptions are from Charles Shivers, a Philadelphia druggist and chemist. There are four pages laid in, three recipes and one receipt from 1869.

The volume is leather-bound with all but one entry in ink. The title “Formulae” is written on the front cover and printed upside down and misspelled on the rear cover.

Dates

Creation: 1836-1869

Creator

George, W. O. (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials primarily in English with occasional Latin terms.

Restrictions on Access

The collection is open for research.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/spec/askspec/

Biographical Note

W. O. George lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the during the early to mid nineteenth century.

Biographical information derived from collection.