TWO SQUIBB U.S. ARMY MEDICAL PANNIERS c. 1863
ONE IS FROM THE FAMILY OF A CIVIL WAR VET
WHO WAS IN THE AMBULANCE CORPS
SQUIBB ARMY MEDICAL PANNIER #1
SQUIBB ARMY MEDICAL PANNIER #2
The pannier on the left was purchased about 1920, in Georgia. I acquired it via a friend of his grandson. It still contains both the upper and lower wooden inserts (which is rare to find), as well as several original japanned tin medical containers and other items.
Edward Robinson Squibb, the same person who manufactured purified pharmaceuticals for the Civil War (see the ether tin item), was also responsible for designing a new kind of light-weight pannier box (or medicine chest) which was used to distribute medicines to doctors working in the field. The pannier was wooden, with iron banding to protect all of the corners and edges. It was intended to be carried on Army transport and ambulance wagons, and needed to be sturdy to withstand abuse. It contained 52 standard medicines all packaged in Japanned tin containers (hence unbreakable), and was sold at a cost of $100.00 per pannier.
Chief purveyor for the U.S. Army, Richard S. Satterlee (1789-1880), impressed with the quality and skill of Squibb’s work, was responsible for many of the orders and contracts Squibb received from the army. Although competition from other manufacturers eventually followed, the Civil War helped Squibb start what became a very successful pharmaceutical company, the Squibb Corporation, which is still thriving today.