Nestled in the heart of the Motueka District Museum’s collection is a delicate yet essential medical tool from the mid-19th century: a travelling apothecary scales and weights set.
Housed in a compact wooden box, this ingenious set unfolds into a delicate balance-beam scale with two glass pans suspended by chains. Made of brass, the scales can be neatly dismantled and stored within the box for easy transport—ideal for a 19th-century medical practitioner on the move. Accompanying the scales are original brass weights designed to measure in grains, a unit rooted in the humble barley grain.
In the apothecary system, 20 grains made a scruple, and three scruples equalled a dram—units once essential for dispensing precise doses of medicine. Today, we would call such a professional a chemist.
This set once belonged to Dr John Danforth Greenwood, a pioneering figure in Motueka’s history. A surgeon by trade, Dr Greenwood emigrated from England to New Zealand with his wife Sarah and their large family in 1843. They settled in Motueka, where he served as not only as the local doctor, but also as a farmer, magistrate, and community leader.
This apothecary set is a tangible link to Dr Greenwood’s legacy of providing medical care to the people of Motueka during the mid-1800s. Come and view this remarkable object and imagine the hands that once used it to heal our growing community.
The Guardian will be regularly showcasing the treasures that are protected and displayed at the Motueka District Museum. Visit the museum today to learn more about the lives and tools that shaped Motueka’s past.
The Motueka District Museum is open Tuesday-Friday 10am-3pm, and Sunday 10am-2pm.
