Doctors saddle bags

[LittleTennessee]

My second great grandfather O. Smith ( I can't ever remember how to properly spell his first name) was a doctor for the confederacy out of Mississippi. My father still has his saddle bags with various medicine bottles and equipment. The Leather is in fairly good condition but is starting to get cracks in areas. I've convinced dad to move it off the mantel because the sunlight hits it directly all morning. Does anyone have any advice on the care of old saddle bags?

 

[Frederick14Va]

Pecard - Antique Leather Care Dressing.

We use this on museum collection leather items... best Ive found for conservation of very old fragile leather goods like this. The medicines I would leave sealed as is.. many of the products used in past are toxic and/or caustic. If not well versed and familiar with them not worth the risk to tamper with them. Do you have any photos of the saddle bags or its contents?

 

[BelleBlackburn]

Can you take a picture of the bag and contents?

 

[LittleTennessee]

My dad lives in Tennessee but I will ask my sister who lives with him to send pictures and I will post them as soon as I receive them. I know the bottles he had removed and placed in my grandfather's ammunition box from WW2 to keep us from tampering when we were children. I believe he did the same with the tools not long ago but neither are messed with much. I will request pictures of all. We also have an iron wagon wheel. Not sure how old it is but there used to be an old road from the 19th century that ran through our property. It was made from wooden planks. I'll have her send pictures of that as well. We've found all sorts of relics on our property. Cast iron irons, arrow heads, musket balls. Horse shoes etc