Health Care Museum
Hope Matteson
HCS/245
June 30, 2014
Barbra Williamson

Health Care Museum
As we all know the healthcare industry is forever developing, and it is a fast pace growing industry. I would like to have 5 exhibits that are in the 1700’s Starting from the earliest years as we know of is the 1700’s up until now the millennium. The healthcare museum proposal has five exhibits starting with first exhibit, will be an exhibit on the first hospital that was created in the nation. The second exhibit is the 1700’s healthcare practice. The third women in healthcare in the 1700’s. Fourth exhibit is on early medicine. The fifth exhibit is on 1700’s technology.
Exhibit 1 – The Creation of the first Nation hospital was founded in 1751 located in Pennsylvania and it was created by Dr. Thomas Bond and Benjamin Franklin. Philadelphia was the fastest growing city in the states. This city’s population grew to 15,000 by 1750 making that an additional 3,500 more people added to the city. This city eventually grew to become the second largest English speaking city in the British Empire. There were numerous amounts of people whom were sick, physically ill, mentally ill, and diseased in the city of Philadelphia. The city had a numerous amounts of immigrant settlers that also contributed to the cause. Because the increase in population and immigrants the numbers had increased to the point where a man by the name of Dr. Thomas Bond came up with the idea of having a hospital for these sick individuals. Benjamin Franklin had happen to support Mr. Bond’s idea and that is how the nation’s first hospital was established in 1751. | Exhibit 2 – In the early 1700’s healthcare consisted of anyone who knew how to set up a physician practice. Back then board exams, certifications, specialize training nor was education needed. The physicians’ could be a local tradesmen, such as a barber or a clergy. Some barbers would have a red and white pole outside of their place of business to signify that they were also a surgeon. The red stripes represented blood and the white represented bandages. With this being said the barber also known as the surgeon would use the same blades for cutting hair and performing surgeries on his clients. Often these physicians would go to the homes of those individuals whom were sick and treat them there. Often the patients would have to pay out of pocket.
Exhibit 3 – In the early 1700’s the women were designated these following responsibilities; healthcare givers, the housekeeping the child care, and housekeeping. Their education and training in medicine were learned from their mothers. They were exposed to growing medicinal herbs in kitchen gardens, concocting remedies from their available resources. These women would keep journals to record and annotate remedies. The women would nurse the ill through what they were taught by their families, and friends. Women would also at times would practice outside their homes as well. Women who were known as child bearers were also made to assist other women as midwives.
Exhibit 4 – In the 1700’s practitioners were inventing new medical recipes and were keeping them a secret. The name of the medicine would often be named after the individual whom had invented it. Painkillers, vegetable pills, Dr. Jaime’s Powders and other brand names were sold as well. However some of these medicines were later known to be a placebo and that the physician whom invented them were quacks. Most medicine consisted of herbs and concoctions in the early 1700’s. Women would grow the herbs in their kitchen garden, and they would practice what they were taught through their family members and friends.

Exhibit 5 - Amputation tools were used such as the amputation saw with a curve blade used to make a circular cut through the muscle and skin prior to the use of the amputation saw. The amputation saw was used to sever the bone. The tobacco smoke enema, which is just what it sounds like, was used to resuscitate drowning victims. According to Surgical Technologists, "a tube was inserted into the rectum and connected to a fumigator. The fumigator and bellows pumped smoke through the tube and into the anus." A popular phrase about blowing smoke up one's rectum was coined because of the doubts people had about the efficacy of this treatment. Circumcision Knives were used in the early 1700’s for health reason and often part of a religious ceremony. The long serrated blade was intended to cut the foreskin neatly without a great loss of blood.

References:
www.uphs.upenn.edu