18TH CENTURY MEDICINE

In 18th century Pennsylvania medicine was practiced by various members of  the community. Most apothecaries, physicians, and surgeons were located in large towns such as Philadelphia. An apothecary was a type of doctor. He could diagnose the patients illness and prepare medications to treat the symptoms of a particular disease. Apothecaries were usually trained through apprenticeship. Surgeons could set broken bones, pull teeth and perform other types of surgery. They were also a few physicians. A physician was trained to diagnose illnesses but usually did not mix drugs or perform surgery. Physicians received their training at medical schools. Many physicians went to Edinburgh, Scotland to study medicine although schools were available in England, Philadelphia and New York. Most physicians, apothecaries and surgeons made house call  rather than treating patients at the Apothecary.

Pennsylvania’s economy was based on agriculture so most Pennsylvanians  did not live close enough to a large town to have access to a physician. Many people, other than doctors, treated members of the community when they were sick or injured. Much of the responsibility for caring for the sick was provided by the mistress of the household. We also have documentation in diaries and journals that the make head of the household was practicing medicine at this time  (George Washington). Much of this information was passed down from mother to daughter or learned form other family or community members.

Home remedy books were also available to those women who could read. The Housekeepers Pocketbook by Sarah Harrison, Every Man His Own Doctor by John Tennant and Primitive Remedies by John Wesley (who suggested a healthy diet, fresh air, plenty of exercise and simple medicines) were just a few of these reference books for the home practitioner. Medicinal receipts (remedies) could also be found in hundreds of cookbooks published at this time. Examples are Hannah Glasse”s The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy and Eliza Smith’s The Complete Housewife. This knowledge was also passed on to  those who could not read and thus new medical knowledge could spread through the community.

Home health care was also less expensive than calling a physician to your home. Many of your medicines could be grown in the kitchen garden including dozens of herbs such as Chamomile for stomach ailments and Horehound for coughs and colds. Other medications, which could not be grown in this climate , could be purchased at the Apothecary, In addition to plant materials, Apothecaries also sold a wide variety of ingredients for medicines such as powdered chalk and oyster shells for heartburn. A prescription was not necessary although the apothecary would recommend certain medications or treatments. The Apothecary also sold the equipment needed for the home practitioner such as mortars and pestles to mix medicines.

Women also practiced medicine outside of the households, treating neighbors and members of the slave households throughout the community. Women served as midwives, sometimes traveling great distances to deliver children to those in need of their services.

Neither physicians nor home practitioners had any knowledge of bacteria, germs or viruses at this time. So they did not practice basic hygiene that we take for granted today such as sterilization of instruments or even washing hands. It was quite common for family members, friends and neighbors to come and sit by the sickbed to read or bring news to those who were infirmed, even though it was known that certain diseases were contagious.

So you can see that many people were practicing medicine at this time. There were no specialists and little medical hygiene.