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| Old Salem Tour of Vierling House and Apothecary Shop © Katrena |
The Vierling House, one of several homes on the Old Salem tour, offers visitors a glimpse of medical practice in the early 19th century. This was one of my personal favorites on the tour. I am a registered nurse, and I found it very interesting to step back in time to see what medical supplies and treatments were available in the 1800s.
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| Dr. Vierling's House at Old Salem © Katrena |
Dr. Samuel Benjamin Vierling lived in an upscale house compared to many of the homes in Old Salem at that time. The furniture was very well preserved, and my kids were excited to recognize items like the vintage spinning wheel. The size of the rooms seemed similar to those of the tavern. I am sure it must have taken quite a bit of work to heat rooms with such high ceilings back then.
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| Learn About Moravian Culture in the Early 1800s © Katrena |
The dining room included place settings with silverware that captured my girls' attention. We had the opportunity to learn how families in the early 1800s used cutlery differently than we do today, hence the difference in the sizes of utensils when compared to those of more modern times.
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| Kitchen and Cooking Fireplace in Old Salem © Katrena |
Many of the homes on the tour feature a fireplace, and the kitchen in this home seemed quite large when compared to other homes for individual families. We visited when the tree just behind the house was loaded with figs. I can imagine the cook of the house making a lot of dishes from freshly picked fruits and vegetables found right out the back door.
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| Old Medical Supplies - Vintage Bedpan © Katrena |
This residential home was rather unusual because it featured two levels. The upstairs contained a museum packed full of medical supplies. Many of the supplies resembled those still used today, such as the old metal bedpan. It was quite interesting to hear my daughter's guesses as to the use of that strange apparatus since they had never seen a bedpan before.
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| Old Obstetrical Supplies at Old Salem © Katrena |
After taking a look at the older obstetrical supplies and adaptive devices such as early hearing aids of the early 1800s, I gained a new appreciation for advances in health care that we enjoy and often take for granted today.
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| Old Doctor Bag And Medical Supplies © Katrena |
Doctors would often carry their "office" with them for house calls. I can imagine that Dr. Vierling's black bag would have quite a story to tell of house visits for everything from injuries to illnesses to delivering babies.
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| Old Medical Journal from 1800s © Katrena |
It was difficult for my children and me to imagine home visits by a physician or walking a few blocks to the doctor's home in search of medical treatment. Doctors of the time must have spent countless hours studying the human body and researching treatment options without the benefit of medical journals and forums via the Internet. I can imagine that this doctor was quite organized and attentive to detail since the items in the museum were so well preserved.
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| Doctor's Office and Sick Chair in Old Salem © Katrena |
Some treatments described in the museum and apothecary shop seemed rather timeless. The sick chair looked like many a person sat there in the hope that Dr. Vierling would be able to diagnose and treat whatever ailed the person, just as many people today may spend quite a bit of time waiting to be seen by a healthcare provider.
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| Medicinal Herbs used in Old Salem and Moravian Culture © Katrena |
The apothecary shop included an impressive display of herbs and supplies that pre-dated modern pharmacies. Scientists have studied the effectiveness of many home remedies and have discovered that some of those older treatments were right on the mark. Modern medicines often contain ingredients similar to those used hundreds of years ago.
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| Old Scale for Weighing Medicine from 1800s © Katrena |
It was interesting to have a chance to look at the scales for weighing various ingredients and seeing the mortars and pestles in the shop. I have used a mortar and pestle myself and found them to be very effective in grinding pills into powder form. I actually found the old mortal and pestle to be a bit superior to the newer, modern versions in many ways.
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| Old Salem Tour in Winston-Salem NC © Katrena |
Many physicians today are challenged to help patients who come in with various problems that seem to defy diagnosis and/or treatments. Medical doctors of the early 1800s were highly respected by many in the community, and much of their success may have stemmed from the physician's genuine concern for his neighbors, friends, and family members who sought his help.
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| Vintage Surgical Instruments from 1800s © Katrena |
I am fortunate to know a retired physician who used to make house calls. He still walks every day with his dog and often has a treat for the various dogs and cats along his walking route. I can imagine Dr. Vierling having that same sort of caring attitude toward his community!
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| Vintage Medical and Surgical Supplies © Katrena |
Additional articles about our Old Salem Tour:
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| Vintage Pharmaceutical Instruments from Old Salem © Katrena |
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