… wrote about an ANTIMONY CUP ( Museum no. 1370-1900) which was made in about 1720. Medical opinion up till the 19th century held that illness could be caused by the build-up of bad 'humours' in the body. Purging, in the form of bleeding or induced vomiting, was believed to be useful for expelling them. Antimony is a toxic metal that causes vomiting, diarrhoea and breathing difficulties when touched or ingested. Cups like this were filled with wine. The metal would then react with the wine. Patients would drink small amounts of the liquid to induce vomiting. The cup needed protection, as antimony was expensive and also toxic in concentrated amounts.

Antimony

It is a poisoned chalice
	that we raise -
but as we toast each other's healths,
	and chink
our fragile cups together,
	let us praise
the nation we're creating
	with this drink,
as we beget a finer race
	of men
and draft its customs with this
	alchemy -
eternal Friday nights
	of swirl and churn
of wine and air in this
	antimony.
We sink a cup to purge what makes us
	sick,
and sketch out shapes of Empire
	on the floor,
in splash on spreading splash of pink
	on brick
and blanket; wine and bile. Landlord,
	one more!
One final shot to get
	under our skin.
Sorry, gents, it's time
	Better out than in.