THE MEDICINE ROOM

Notice the construction of the walls. These are handmade, sun baked bricks, held together with mud mortar. Every ninth course of brick, a piece of board was nailed to the studs to stabilize the wall. This is called "nogging" and is a form of insulation. It keeps the house cool in the summer and tends to keep it warmer in winter. It is also a fire deterrent. The studs are squared off saplings which are mortised into the sill and plate. Plaster was made from ground clamshells and was applied right over the brick nogging, thereby eliminating lathe.

Notice also the huge beam with its fitted notches. This known as a girt. The floors in this room, the bed chamber and the second floor are original to the house.

Notice also:

• Candle stand (hand wrought reproduction - 3' tall 
• Chair (9-spindle, bow back Windsor armchair, bamboo turnings on legs And spindles, knuckle end arms, solid, shaped seat) - gift of the Antique Club of New Jersey
• Walnut desk, circa 1800-1885
• Lamp (tin, whale oil, deep saucer base, column with simple handle, drum Shaped font with wick pick.)

The articles on the shelves that are tagged were found in a dig at the back of the property by the person named. Of interest is the "women at the wall pitcher" which is broken.

The hat box, brace and eyeglasses were donated as articles of interest.

A "fleam" or blood letting knife was used to draw blood and used to remove the "bad blood" and thus cure the patient.

Scales were to measure medicines in the proper quantity.

Herbs were used in various ways. Some served as band-aids, other ground up and mixed with oil or swallowed. Alcohol was used as an anesthetic when cutting and amputating (sometimes internally). Leeches were used in healing patients.

Most doctoring was to ease pain and suffering for the patient. The small box was a kit with a candle and was used where light was dim. This was used by a traveling doctor

The seaman's chest was made and donated by Nelson Lawrence.