Idrija Mercury Heritage Management Center, Bazoviška 2, SI-5280 Idrija
Ownership
Public
Owner
Republic of Slovenia
Local / Original ID Number
/
Type of Object
Daily life
Description
Short description
A small brown bottle, which contains the antiseptic Merbromin. On the front, the bottle has a white label with brown-white edge, with a content declaration, manufacture date, weight of the contents, and the manufacturer’s name. It is closed with a cork plug, which is aligned with the top wider part of the bottle opening.
Measures
Length 3 cm, width 2 cm, height 3.5 cm.
Materials
Mercury-chromium, glass, cork.
Dating
1906
Author / Producer
Johnson&Johnson, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
Picture attachments
Original use
Mercury-chromium or mercury organic halogenid merbromin (C20H8Br2HgNa2O6) served as a disinfectant in healthcare and in the treatment of minor bruises, scratches and injuries. Merbromin was a part of the basic first aid kit for many years.
Present use
The bottle with mercury-chromide is being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. It is a part of the CUDHg Smelting Collection. Visitors can view it within the permanent museum display “From Ore to Mercury Drops” in the Hg Smelting Plant, which represents the characteristics and the versatile use of mercury in science, technology, medicine, culture and every day life. Within the exhibition the object is placed in the density segment of mercury compounds and it presents the usefulness of mercury for medicine purposes.