Item 7572
Chapter 5, page 137-141.
Herbal remedies were common forms of medicinal practice in the 1700s. Midwives and healers would use concoctions made of a variety of herbs and plants to help heal a range of aliments.
This recipe calls for smartweed, coltsfoot, honey and licorice.
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Item 6240
Chapter 5, page 137-141.
This dental pelican tool belonged to Dr. William Marrett of Westbrook. Dr. Marrett began practicing dentistry in 1832.
This tool is made of forged iron, and was used to extract teeth.
Item 6963
Chapter 5, page 139-141.
This Revolutionary era surgical kit contains a metal tongue depressor, a tortoise shell cased knife, scissors, a suture needle, and two probes.
There were no hospitals on the Maine frontier. Doctors made house calls, and often treated patients in unsanitary conditions with unsterilized surgical tools.
Item 7581
Chapter 5, page 139-141.
Benjamin Vaughan's remedy for sore ears is a paste that includes poppy heads boiled in milk, rhubarb, nutmeg, and sulpher, among other ingredients. This herbal remedy requires many diverse ingrediants and complex preparation.
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Item 7566
Chapter 5, page 140.
This 1801 letter from Benhamin Vaughan to Dr. Page recommends bloodletting, or phlebotomy, to cure a patient's aliment.
Bloodletting was a common healing technique. Doctors would cut patients in several spots and allow their blood to drain, with the idea that the sickness would leave their body through the blood.
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Item 1474
Chapter 5, page 140.
Molly Ockett was a healer, who was known for practicing herbal medicine in western Maine. She used Abenaki herbal recipes, and was greatly respected by settlers in the region.
