Travelling medicine chest used by Surgeon Henry Fowle Smith of the Medical Staff in the Crimean War

Henry Fowle Smith (1823-1906) was born at Weyhill, Andover and qualified as a doctor at King's College, Aberdeen in 1850. Appointed Assistant Surgeon of the 16th (The Bedfordshire) Regiment of Foot in 1847, he became a Surgeon on the Staff on 12 January 1855, having been present at the Battles of Alma, Balaklava and Inkerman. He was doctor to Major-General James Estcourt and was consulted during Lord Raglan's final illness. Henry Fowle Smith retired with the honorary rank of Deputy Surgeon General in 1875.

This brown wooden chest contains various pieces of medical equipment. The top of the chest opens to reveal a compartment with sections and the front opens to reveal seven small drawers each with a sliding glass lid so that it can be taken out and used as a box. The back opens to reveal seven glass bottles on two wooden shelves with partitions.