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To help a soldier in the First World War, yesterday an outdated field dressing triggered a modern emergency in downtown Dunedin.

The bandages are coated with picric acid, which is now considered a dangerous and potentially explosive substance, but has been used to treat burns and skin diseases for decades.

Last week, the Museum of New Zealand sent a message to all archives asking them to pay attention to the picric acid in the collection. Previously, the Napier Library temporarily closed the substance after it was found in an old medicine cabinet.

On July 6, the Waikawa and Regional Museum in Catlins were evacuated. After the staff found picric acid in the medicine box, the bomb disposal team was called in.

The staff of the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum inspected the museum’s collections yesterday and discovered potentially harmful field dressings.

A spokesperson for the Dunedin City Council said: "They immediately notified the New Zealand Police, who in turn issued an alert to the New Zealand Department of Fire and Emergency." Toitu Otago Settlers Museum's emergency services yesterday. Photo: Craig Baxter

"As a precaution, the museum has been evacuated."

First aid kits with dressings were placed in a safe storage area, and emergency services allowed the museum to reopen today.

A police spokesperson said that the National Defense Forces explosives disposal unit usually dealt with the problem immediately, but after Nelson discovered similar picric acid, Founders Heritage Park and the adjacent childcare center and a building in Whakatu marae were demolished. Was evacuated.

The spokesperson said: "The New Zealand Defence Force has provided advice on this situation and will deal with it later this week when it is free."

The Museum of New Zealand stated that gauze or cotton wool soaked in picric acid is usually contained in an old first aid kit or stored as a bottled liquid.

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