18th century pill cutter - photo

[Altair]

18th century pill cutter.

"In the 1700s, pills were made by mixing all of the drug ingredients together 'often with liquorice or a sugar solution' and then rolling the mixture out into strips. A pill cutter would be used to divide the strips up equally into small segments, which would then be rolled into a pill shape. The sharp teeth on each edge of the steel cutter give a different number of pills. One edge gives twelve pills and the other cuts thirty pills. The tool would have been used by a pharmacist or apothecary. Once cut and shaped, the pills were hardened, coated and stored."

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Previously:

How pill capsules are filled - GIF
Pills dissolving under macro lens - video