Title
Alum: The Old-Timey Astringent
Image
Description
This collection of Alum containers showcases a bygone era when astringents were household staples. Alum was used to tighten tissues, stop minor bleeding, and treat mouth sores. Each container—Walgreen’s powdered Alum, Pennek’s Lump Alum, and National’s Lump Alum—tells a story of pharmaceutical history, from Chicago’s pharmacy counters to the shelves of Pittsburgh and St. Louis.
Condition
Walgreen Powdered Alum: Excellent condition, minimal rust, label intact.
Pennek Lump Alum: Heavy rust on the metal cap, label aged but readable.
National Lump Alum: Paper container with some wear and soft edges—still holding its own.
Historical context
Alum has been a trusted astringent for centuries. It was especially popular in 19th and early 20th-century medicine cabinets, often doubling as a pickling ingredient or deodorant. Today, we know it for its astringent effect on wounds and skin irritations.
Curious Facts, Ephemera, and Trivia
Alum was once sold in barbershops to stop shaving nicks.
It’s an essential ingredient in some pickling recipes.
Chemically, it’s a double sulfate of aluminum and potassium or ammonium—like a magical mineral salt!
Excerpt
“Alum’s astringent properties shrink tissues and tighten cell walls—like a 19th-century suture in a jar.”
Why it is in the Cabinet
This Alum collection represents the intersection of household medicine, folk remedies, and industrial packaging. A reminder of how everyday products were once pharmacy mainstays—no modern plastic tubes needed!