Permanent Exhibits

Mobile - Cradle of Organized Medicine in Alabama The exhibit includes artifacts used in the first Medical College of Alabama which was established in 1859 by Dr. Josiah Nott. Medical care of Alabama began with the establishment of Hospital Royale in the early 1700's and the exhibit encompasses many aspects of medicine during those years. Mobile was home to the first County Health Department in the region established in 1816, predating any other health department in Alabama by almost 100 years. Mobile also established the first Medical Society in the region in 1849. (Shown Right) Revigator: Sold during the 1920’s and early 1930’s supposedly to improve health by imparting radium or radon into the drinking water kept inside the jar. Directions on the back of the jar instruct the individual to fill the jar every night using hydrant or any good water, and upon arising, retiring or when thirsty, averaging 6 or more glasses daily.

Bleeding bowl: This beautiful bowl represents a French creation that was utilized by a physician in the performance of a phlebotomy, commonly known as “bleeding” a patient. It was considered effective therapy in that it decreased the total volume of blood the heart had to pump and possibly eliminated poisons in the body. Bleeding was considered to be the panacea for any and all ills – not unlike the use of aspirin today. It was agreed that bleeding should never be done when the moon was on the wane, or during a south wind. A good time was in early lent. The practice ceased toward the end of the 19th century. Scarficator: a small instrument made of brass with a spring-loaded very sharp curved blade used to make an incision in a vein to produce bleeding. The tiny leather case was easily kept in a pocket.

For the Civil War soldier, whether he came from the Union or the Confederate army, the killing power of the enemy was not his only worry. He fought at a time when medicine was imperfect, and he had little chance of receiving the type of treatment that would be routine a generation later. On display at the Medical Museum are many tools of the Civil War surgeon, including bullet extractors, surgical kits, amputation saws, and many other fascinating items. (Right) General Surgery Kit: Used near the battlefield during the Civil War to treat injuries sustained in combat.

Dr. Josiah Nott, founder of the Medical College of Alabama, in Mobile, traveled to Paris, France in 1859, in search of specimens and equipment which would be needed in the new college. While there he purchased two paper mache` models. The bearded model shown is a direct copy from an atlas published by Hirschfeld in 1854. This model, with the autonomic nervous system shown in yellow, is very accurate. And plates from the same atlas are still used in late editions of Gray's Anatomy. (Right) In 1859, Dr. Josiah C. Nott acquired this larger than life size anatomical model in Paris, France for the Medical College of Mobile.

Spectacles: Part of large collection of spectacles, left to right: “Double D” spectacles with blue lens, c.1850, spectacles with silver rims and case c.1830, and spectacles with brass frames and green lens, c. 1835.