Three Mid 18th century Dutch wooden painted apothecary jars.

Pulv Ginae was used as an antihelminth (against intestinal worms). Pulv Tragacanth is extracted from Astragalus gummifer and still in use today as a binding agent for various suspensions and mixtures as an excipient. Pulv Purgans is a mixture of Jalap, Acid Potassium Tartrate and Ginger. Mixing the tartrate with the Jalap aids solubility whilst increasing its hydragogue effect. It was also used as a cathartic in dropsy.

• From the Phisick collection