Consumer Culture, Self-Prescription, and Status: Nineteenth-Century Medicine Chests in the Royal Navy

Nineteenth-century medicine chests from the Royal Navy, despite being symbols of affluence and consumer culture, offered limited effective self-prescription options even to affluent individuals. A comparative analysis of four personal medicine chests alongside an institutional one reveals that these objects served dual purposes: practical health remedies and status symbols reflecting socio-economic trends like Victorian mobility and consumerism. The study highlights the gendered nature of seemingly neutral consumer goods and provides insight into the psychological distinction between nineteenth-century health consumers and modern ones. By examining material culture, this research underscores the influence of consumer culture on both personal and institutional practices within a distinct social group, advocating for more object-based historical studies.

Hendriksen, M. M. A. (2015). Consumer Culture, Self-Prescription, and Status: Nineteenth-Century Medicine Chests in the Royal Navy. Journal of Victorian Culture, 20(2), 147–167. https://doi.org/10.1080/13555502.2015.1022353