When you visit the RPS Museum you may expect to see drug jars, poison bottles and pill machines. But you’ll also find a menagerie of animals hiding on our shelves. You might not spot them at a first glance but take a closer look to see all kinds of fantastic beasts!

Crocodile

Hanging above the case in our Georgian Pharmacy display, is our very own crocodile. In the 18^th century Crocodiles were a symbol of pharmacy, hanging in Apothecary shops to advertise their trade. This would have been helpful for people who couldn’t read. We don’t know why crocodiles were chosen. It could have been to show the Apothecary’s ability to get rare medicinal ingredients!

Bears

If you’ve been to the Museum, you might recognise this polar bear. This model was used to advertise bear’s grease, an 18^th century cure for baldness! It was hoped that a liberal coating of the grease would pass the hairy properties of the bear right into a person’s head!

We also have another bear hiding in the collection. In our Landmark Medicines display we have a booklet featuring the popular children’s tv character Rupert Bear. He’s there to help children manage their diabetes, by measuring the blood sugar levels and managing their insulin.

Unicorn

We also have some magical animals in our collection! Unicorns can be found in the displays in all shapes and sizes. In this picture you can see them on an apothecary jar. Unicorns are featured in the crest of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries.

You can also spot a unicorn in the logo for the pharmaceutical company Burroughs Wellcome and Co. It was chosen by the company for its ‘delicacy, and refinement, and grace’.

Toads

In amongst the Materia Medica collection, you’ll spot all sorts of animals like bees, snakes and toads. Animals were often used in medicine, in ways that seem strange to us today. Sometimes toads like these were dried out and powdered, then drunk to help pass urine. Toads could also be tied to a wound to help it heal. It didn’t matter if the toad was alive or dead! You could also tie a toad to your navel to stop bleeding.

All these animals and many more can be found in the Museum Collection. Come and visit to see how many you can spot! 

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