Museum of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Posted August 26th, 2008 by phl.costelloe
Location: 
1 Lambeth Hight Street
Location: 
London
Location: 
SE1 7NJ
Telephone: 
020 7572 2210
Museum Website: 
The RPSGB Website
Parent Organisation: 
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (Great Britain)
Funding Organisation: 
The RPSGB, ie. a private organisation
YLM Questionnaire Completed: 
Yes
Comment: 
Disposal Policy: 
Yes
HR On Display: 
Yes
HR Count: 
6
HR Count Pre-Christian: 
2
Iconic HR: 
Yes
How many human remains are in its collection, and how many of those are of ancient British provenance: 
There are six in the collection, the only two that are not Christian being of Egyptian origin.
How many of these human remains are well documented, with clear context of date and place of exhumation?: 
The remains are documented but have yet to be analysed. None have a context before the eighteenth century, however.
Where there are human remains in store, is there a history of use?: 
This is unknown.
Where there are human remains in store, is there potential for use, in display, education or scientific analysis?: 
It is believed that yes, there is potential for use.
Does the museum have a disposal policy, and is it including HR with negligible potential in its discussions about disposal?: 
Yes, there is a disposal policy. The presumption is against disposal of human remains, the policy stating that the museum will follow the recommendations of the DCMS Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums.
What sources of information about these human remains are in the public domain and where?: 
These human remains are catalogued on the museum's documentation database, and museum staff will make all information they have freely available on request.
Are any of these remains currently on display and in what context?: 
There are three specimen jars on display, containing pieces of skull, mummified flesh and jawbone / teeth, and congealed blood. They are displayed as examples of drug ingredients sold by apothecaries in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The mummified hand is currently in a temporary display (Sept 2008) (see the note on Iconic remains).
Does the museum hold any iconic HR, i.e. figures of local or national importance, and are these on display?: 
The (possibly Egyptian) mummified hand is considered iconic, and is part of a seventeenth / eighteenth century 'materia medica' assembled by John Burges (1754-1807). It is currently displayed (until March 2009) as part of a display on treatments for women's conditions. Mummy has been medicinally for many things over time, but in this display it illustrates the treatment of amenorrhoea.