Description

When European settlers came to this country, there were no corner drug stores and few physicians, so they needed to learn to be their own doctors and pharmacists. Initially, they relied on remedies brought with them from Europe, but the costs associated with importing were prohibitive. Many grew their own medicinal plants, originally brought from Europe, in small kitchen gardens. Remedies from local flora were often improvised. Some of these local plants were the same as those found in Europe, while others were merely related and their therapeutic qualities inconsistent with those with which the colonists were familiar. Sometimes local plants were found to be completely different, so their usage was determined by trial and error or by instruction from the Indians who had used them as medicine for many years. Join Patricia Violette as she discusses various 18th-century remedies in this immersive and engaging presentation. Discussion will include a talk about the 18th-century midwife, Martha Moore Ballard, as well as 17th-century apothecarist Nicholas Culpepper. By combining differing methods of medicinal preparations, participants will gain a clearer sense of the technology of the past and how it has influenced modern day curing practices. Themes explored will include the effects of this technology on daily life, human nature, behavior and relationships, family structures, gender roles, children, and economic feasibility. Patricia Violette is the Executive Director of the Portsmouth Submarine Memorial Association and current Treasurer of the Wentworth-Gardner Historic House Association. About Wentworth-Gardner Historic House Wentworth-Gardner Historic House is located at 50 Mechanic Street in the South End neighborhood of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. House tours are offered to the public, Thursday through Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through Columbus Day, and begin on the steps of the Wentworth-Gardner House. WGHHA is dedicated to preserving and enhancing its structures, collections, and grounds, and contributing to the vitality of the community through education and outreach. For information, visit www.wentworth-gardner.org.