Radiocarbon dating can be used to determine the age of organic materials, including wooden artefacts, fabrics and human or animal remains.
I explain how this technique works here on the ANSTO website.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Bilax your bowels
This week in "Old Pills for Odd Ills" we feature Bilax, formerly known as Doan's Dinner Pills. Read more about Bilax here.
It seems folk were quite preoccupied about their bowel activity in the 1900s, since Bilax is yet another laxative in the museum's collection.
Ironically, while newspaper advertisements heralded the gentle action of Bilax, it is thought that one of the ingredients in the pills, podophyllin, may have caused haemorrhoids in regular users.
It seems folk were quite preoccupied about their bowel activity in the 1900s, since Bilax is yet another laxative in the museum's collection.
Ironically, while newspaper advertisements heralded the gentle action of Bilax, it is thought that one of the ingredients in the pills, podophyllin, may have caused haemorrhoids in regular users.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
KAG antiseptic: Think Dettol, but a hundred years ago
In the 1900s, people found 31 different uses for KAG antiseptic, a combination of alcohol and chlorine bleach, which claimed to "kill all germs".
Year 10 student Joshua Collis-Bird wrote our "Old pills for odd ills" installment for this week, which you can read here.
According to the pamphlet inside the box, KAG could be used for the following:
1. For the mouth and teeth
2. For cleansing dental plates
3. For sterilising tooth brushes
4. For stopping sore throats
5. For cold in the head, catarrh and influenza
6. For cleansing and healing cuts and wounds
7. For skin troubles, rashes, bed sores, boils, carbuncles, eczema, bad legs
8. For chilblains
9. For hives, heat rash and insect bites
10. For scabies or itch
11. For feminine hygiene
12. For destroying perspiration odours
13. For the bath
14. For perspiring or aching feet
15. For the relief of piles
16. For warts
17. For exterminating vermin
18. For cleansing brushes and combs
19. For cleansing and sterilising feeding bottles, milk bottles, milk cans
20. For shaving water
21. For sterilising the hands
22. For sick-room hygiene, sterilising bed pans and urinals
23. For sterilising linen, underwear, diapers, napkins
24. For removing stains
25. After teeth extraction
26. For sunburns
27. As a veterinary disinfectant
28. For drains, dust bins and bad smells
29. For freshening and sterilising air
30. For purifying drinking water and water tanks
31. Preserving meat, fish, bacon, hams and poultry in the home
Year 10 student Joshua Collis-Bird wrote our "Old pills for odd ills" installment for this week, which you can read here.
According to the pamphlet inside the box, KAG could be used for the following:
1. For the mouth and teeth
2. For cleansing dental plates
3. For sterilising tooth brushes
4. For stopping sore throats
5. For cold in the head, catarrh and influenza
6. For cleansing and healing cuts and wounds
7. For skin troubles, rashes, bed sores, boils, carbuncles, eczema, bad legs
8. For chilblains
9. For hives, heat rash and insect bites
10. For scabies or itch
11. For feminine hygiene
12. For destroying perspiration odours
13. For the bath
14. For perspiring or aching feet
15. For the relief of piles
16. For warts
17. For exterminating vermin
18. For cleansing brushes and combs
19. For cleansing and sterilising feeding bottles, milk bottles, milk cans
20. For shaving water
21. For sterilising the hands
22. For sick-room hygiene, sterilising bed pans and urinals
23. For sterilising linen, underwear, diapers, napkins
24. For removing stains
25. After teeth extraction
26. For sunburns
27. As a veterinary disinfectant
28. For drains, dust bins and bad smells
29. For freshening and sterilising air
30. For purifying drinking water and water tanks
31. Preserving meat, fish, bacon, hams and poultry in the home
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Greathead's Mixture - the great Australian con
You've probably never heard of it, but just like the Hills Hoist and Vegemite, Greathead's Mixture is a quintessentially Australian invention.
Patented in 1875, this mixture was advertised as a treatment for diphtheria, scarlet fever and other ills, but it's claims of efficacy were controversial amongst medical professionals, to say the least. Read more about Greathead's Mixture here.
Friday, June 1, 2012
The bionic eye - coming soon to a face near you
Bionic Vision Australia plans to start human trials of the first prototype of the bionic eye next year. Read about how the bionic eye will work here
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