SEMEN FOENICUL

1790-1810

This jar is marked "SEMEN FOENICULI" and "HN" appears on the bottom of the jar. Semen Foeniculi are seeds of the fennel plant. which can be pressed to make oil. They are also used for flavoring, as an anti-microbial, for the expulsion of gas, and for colic in infants. George Urdang author of <i>The Squibb Ancient Pharmacy Catalogue</i> attributes the containers 1991.0664.0760 through 1991.0664.0825 to Hanau in the late 18th century based on the floral design surrounding the medallion and the initials "HN" on the bottom of many jars in the series. However, in a letter to museum curators dated August 1983, the pharmaceutical historian Wolfgang-Hagen Hein wrote that the containers without initials and those marked "FH" were made in Florsheim in the German state of Hesse.