In 1914, Stephen Graham, a traveler from Britain, was tramping along the border of Northern Ohio and Southern Michigan, from Toledo to Angola, Indiana. He was entering the West, where fields were wide and square and roads were straight and flat. One evening, he stopped and took a rest at a farm, where he noticed that there was no labor but just the family working in the field. He noted in his journal,...
During the 19th century New York City was a populous municipality, with over 220,000 inhabitants by the 1830s. It was diverse, consisting of both prosperous and impoverished areas. Many buildings were beautifully created with an artistic impression, while others were insignificant and deplorable. Prince Maximilian of Wied’s chronicled his travels in New York during this time and described the contrast...
Due to a growing need for mental health services, Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital was built by the United States Congress as a result of the Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation Act of 1852. The Institution opened in Washington, DC in 1855 as the “Government Hospital for the Insane”. A prominent leader in the mental health field, Dorthea Dix, lobbied for the construction of the facility and founded...
In 1818, Estwick Evans wrote an account of his 4,000 mile long journey from New Hampshire to the recently-established city of Detroit. In his descriptions of the Michigan Territory, he includes references to the state of affairs in terms of the academics, agriculture, tourism, aesthetics, and health of the Territory itself. Â He also reports on the relative health and sanitary conditions of the city...
As wars were breaking out in Europe during 1795, Issac Weld was sent over from Ireland to explore America and observe whether it was truly a land of “flourishing and happy condition”. The Irish were curious whether in times of desperation they would be able to flee to America as a place of refuge. During his travels Weld visited Philadelphia, where tooth decay among the residents became a concern. ...
With the idea that America was the new Promised Land, many Americans were open to everything new including ideas on health. Diet, nutrition and wellness were topics of debate, often with men claiming to have the latest and greatest cure-all remedy. Reverend Sylvester Graham was an advocate for healthful living. He introduced a restrictive diet excluding meat, butter, coffee, tea and any intoxicating...
Columbus and his men are on their journey to America, and to their surprise, they seem to find "AYER'S SARSAPARILLA" waiting for them on the shores of the New World. In the play on words, the Victorian Trading Card claims, "Without Doubt the Discovery of America is Ayer's Sarsaparilla. Dr. Ayer's almanac gives the signatures of thousands of sick people who consumed Ayer's Sarsaparilla and fully recovered...
Mr. J. H. Davidson from Scarborough, Tenn. wrote on June 1st, 1887, "For several years I have [had] serious trouble with my liver. It has appeared to be enlarged, and was slightly sore. Pains in abdomen and chest were frequent, and excruciating pains in both lungs often made me fear consumption. At times I had headache and dry throat. In April, 1816, I tried Thedford's Black- Draught and it gave...
Upon returning home from Vietnam, Marine Lance Corporal Kenneth Pullen claimed that he had been a victim of Agent Orange poisoning. Since his honorable discharge in 1967, eight years before the war ended, Pullen suffered from a wide variety of illnesses. Doctors diagnosed him with having anything from jungle rot to trench foot, to Buerger’s Disease to arthritis. No doctor has been able to give him...
After reading through the Plantations letters and the excerpts provided by classmates I think that the overall theme is that monetary importance and gaining income is all that truly mattered. A few of the interpretations that I have read from classmates mention that they were surprised about the “care and compassion” that both supervisor Lewellyn and Mr. Cameron had toward the slaves. However,...