Antique pharmacist's cane - GIF

[ToolTalkBot]

Antique pharmacist's cane.




Previously:

Saw canes - photos
Snake cane - GIF
Walking cane gun - photos
Walking cane stool - GIF

[mklotz]

I'm trying to think of reasons why someone would want/need one of these. Medical supplies aren't usually considered dangerous so why secrete them?

My best guess is that it was used to smuggle medical supplies to people who were somehow imprisoned and denied medical care, e.g. in a POW camp.

[ductape]

Considering the contents, the cane was probably used for concealing heroin.

The vials would have held the drug. The "lamp" would have been filled with fuel and used to heat the heroin in a spoon. Gauze and paper to filter out the impurities while heating. Twine was commonly used as a tourniquet in order to make veins more prominent. A knife and tweezers would be useful to have in case the needle breaks while injecting the end product.

No, not a user. The local police provide a lot of information to the people they serve.