Samuel Skevington formulary, 1836-1874.

Format:

Book

Manuscript

Author/Creator:

Skevington, Samuel 1826-1905.

Contributor:

Edgar Fahs Smith Memorial Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Pharmacy--19th century--Formulae, receipts, prescriptions.

Pharmacy.

Medicine--19th century--Formulae, receipts, prescriptions.

Medicine.

Veterinary medicine--19th century--Formulae, receipts, prescriptions.

Veterinary medicine.

Toilet preparations--19th century--Formulae, receipts, prescriptions.

Toilet preparations.

Colors--19th century--Formulae, receipts, prescriptions.

Colors.

Genre:

codices (bound manuscripts)

formularies

Recipes.

prescriptions

Penn Provenance:

Sold by Pickering & Chatto Antiquarian Booksellers (London, England), cat. 796 (2017), no. 77.

Physical Description:

1 volume + 8 leaves.

Place of Publication:

1836-1874.

Biography/History:

Born in Bedfordshire, England to Charles and Sarah Skevington. Samuel Skevington was a chemist and druggist in Brighton, Sussex, England. At the age of fifteen he apprenticed under Charles Wing in Cambridgeshire. Skevington probably worked for a time with Peter Squire, who was the chemist to Queen Victoria. By 1851 he was an independent chemist in Brighton. Skevington was married three times. In 1851 he wed Lorania Maidman who died in 1868. In 1872 he married Mary Skevington and they had two children Mary Stewart and Samuel S. Skevington. His second wife died in 1880. In 1884 Skevington married Sophia Cookson.

Summary:

This volume is housed in the binding stamped on the spine: T. Hood's Comic annual. The gatherings are detached from the spine. Modern foliation in pencil consists of [121] leaves. The volume is a compilation of medicinal, household, and veterinary formulas and preparations written by Skevington spanning the years from 1836 to 1874. There are formulas for balls, creams, colors, cordials, drops, inks, liniments, pastes, pills, pomades, powders, salves, tonics, and washes. The first twenty leaves in the volume are formulas to remedy ailments in horses, sheep, and cattle. Prescriptions following leaf [21] provide chemical mixtures to aid in a multitude of ailments including ague, asthma, chilblains, coughs, digestive issues, gangrene, gonorrhea, sore throats, and toothaches. There are preparations for toiletries such as herbal creams, scents, tooth powders, and washes. Several pages include formulas to make a range of colors. Other household recipes in the volume include blacking, cement, flame glass, and ink. Several white and green printed labels pasted in the volume read: Squire Chemist and Druggist of the Queen. One of Squire's label is a receipt of payment signed by Skevington dated 1849, suggesting he worked with Squire prior to having his own business. Also pasted in the volume are pharmacy labels for draughts, pomade divine, and the gargle. One instructive label reads For external use only. Skevington's signature is on the first leaf. Many items are pasted on the pages, or in the gatherings of the volume. Eight leaves are laid in the volume.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Edgar Fahs Smith Memorial Fund.

Cited as:

UPenn Ms. Codex 1863.

OCLC:

1005618718

Access Restriction:

Access to this item is subject to staff review.