The medicine cabinet

I was thinking about how the medicine cabinet has remained virtually unchanged over the years. Located in the bathroom above the sink. Seldom however do you find actual medicine in there. Ointments,creams,gels,bandages,and razors are commonly found but not many prescription medicines. At least not in my house or anyone that I know well. Must have been at some time to get the name though. Seldom would I get a drink of water from the bathroom sink; it somehow seems less sanitary. At one time when the kids were small we had that little dispenser of paper cups in there. It was used mostly for getting mouthwash. It really is more of a first aid kit.

The types of items found in there have changed somewhat over the years depending on fad and fashion. When I was young you would probably find Brylcream or Vitalis in there. Not so much anymore I think. Although could be,not very often that cabinet gets cleaned out. Time means little to the medicine cabinet. My Grandmother referred to it as the medicine chest. She called the refrigerator an ice box too.

Growing up we had Mercurochrome,iodine,hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol in there. Band Aids,gauze,that white tape,tweezers,razor blades,shaving cream and toothpaste. Various ointments also. Calamine lotion. A chunk of Alum for cold sores. A styptic pencil.

A medicine cabinet is a personal thing. Members of the same family living together are allowed in there if there is only one cabinet. Others are supposed to stay out. Looking in someone Else's medicine cabinet is taboo. Proper manners dictate you do not do that. It is somehow a violation of ethics. Secrets abound in that cabinet. It would be almost like reading their diary.

Yes the items change somewhat as we age too. Toothpaste has been replaced with poligrip. The creams and ointments are for,shall we say,more sensitive areas of the body. A magnifying glass has been added to the inventory. A constant for me though has always been some Old Spice aftershave and cologne. Still use it and still like it. Tried Hi-Karate some years back but it just didn't have the same kick as Old Spice.(Pun Intended) I'm willing to bet there will always be a medicine cabinet in the bath. Rather ironic in a way though because it does seem like the least sanitary room. Go figure.
It has just been brought to my attention that my daughter in laws home does not contain any medicine cabinets. The house was built recently. Do they not include a medicine cabinet anymore ? I'll have to do some checking on this. In a lot of the older homes closets were either non existant or very small. Now it is not uncommon for the closet to be the size of a small room. Uhmm ! Something to think about.