[Mysteries of a medicine chest ]

This article retraces the history of an old medicine chest, used at the beginning of the 19th century, but probably designed earlier. Possibly made in A ustria, with a two-headed eagle lining the bottom of the lid, this first-aid kit belongs to a small group of related chests. It should be noted that these chests were used for a wide variety of different purposes over time. Also named a «droguier» in French, this light chest, made of walnut, and, according to family lore, found in Normandy, would have belonged to a doctor, as confirmed by a short invoice found among numerous documents. The identity of the supplier of numerous old medicines is shown on the labels on the flasks (many of which are intact) and other boxes (containing, in particular, herbal drugs) : «Clément, Apothicaire. Rue St Onge N°. 42. près le Bd. du Temple A Paris», whose history is recounted here step by step.