Hugh Mercer Apothocary: Leeches

And then she reaches for the leeches!

Figure It Out Friday Answer

The sight of someone putting a hand in a glass bowl filled with water and pulling out a slimy leech usually draws gasps from the eighth graders that I conduct through the Hugh Mercer Apothecary in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Some are revolted but others are mesmerized by the live, wet mass displayed on her hand. "Ooooo!” Questions abound concerning the origin, safety, care, feeding, and possible pain inflicted by the leech.

The colonial reenactors at the apothecary stay in character to interpret colonial medications and extol the benefits of bleeding by this method, making several sales pitches in favor of the good doctor (one of over 5,000). Several students shudder, but most think it’s ‘cool’. They preface the need for leeches in 18^th century terms by first pointing out that an imbalance of fluids (or humors) causes disease; the delicate balance of bodily fluids can only be reestablished by bleeding, purging, blistering and vomiting! It seemed that for every ailment, a vein would be opened for serious bloodletting, and/or leeches pressed into service; sometimes one would perform this on one’s self with a pocket scarificator.

The whole experience of learning about medicine in colonial America both fascinates and disturbs them. A few of the students, after being shown several herbs and roots, thought they were very much like the ones depicted in Harry Potter. However, they are surprised by the coarse, blunt, and dirty surgical instruments used by Doctor Mercer. Sterilization and hygiene are unknown during this time period, so naturally there was a high mortality rate.

Imagine the students’ expressions when I inform them, after our visit, that leeches are still in use in modern medicine particularly for reattachment of fingers and toes as well as for breast cancer patients! They groan again, because there could be a remote possibility of a leech in their future, which is far scarier to them than a horror movie!

I normally go on to explain how the leeches, by their constant sucking, keep the blood flowing and exchange it for the natural anti-coagulants in their saliva. More groans! I also point out that leeches can carry bacteria that are detrimental by causing infection.

The good news, for my squeamish eighth graders, is that a mechanical leech is being developed and tested at the University of Wisconsin. The bell-shaped glass and metal device, measuring about a half an inch long, and patented by Wisconsin Alumni Research Fund, has fluids running through it, irrigating the wound while pulling the blood through. This process keeps the tissue healthy.

After our visit, questions and discussion are encouraged covering modern medicine, education, medication, antibiotics, (which would have allowed General Washington to live longer), diseases, epidemics, laser surgery, hospitals, homeopathic, holistic, and other alternative cures. After all, medicine and health should also be part of the historic picture.

The general consensus: these students would rather have died than to have been subjected to the ‘skill’ of this doctor - which was not unlike the sentiments of much of colonial society. Colonists had a better chance of recovering by doing nothing!

The apothecary was owned by colorful Scotsman Hugh Mercer (1726-1777), who was both a physician and American patriot. He had been a good friend of George Washington’s (Ferry Farm, Washington’s boyhood home is relatively close to downtown Fredericksburg and Washington sold it to Mercer in 1775). Additionally, Washington’s overbearing mother, Mary Ball Washington, was one of his patients. (For a complete biography, please consult this.) He died of his wounds received at the battle of Princeton in 1777.

Famous descendants of Hugh Mercer are Civil War General Hugh Wheeler Mercer, General George S, Patton, and for my Georgia readers and lovers of popular music, composer Johnny Mercer.

The Hugh Mercer Apothecary, and the Rising Sun Tavern, is administered by the Association of the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA) and is located in the historic downtown area of Fredericksburg, Virginia. It’s a wonderful stop between Washington, DC and Richmond/Williamsburg for these two sites (amongst others) and lunch. They are far more interesting and student-friendly than the ones in Williamsburg because they retain the character and charm of the colonial era.

For more information concerning leeches, please see this excellent essay.

Did you hear the one about the Polish strike in Jamestown?

Figure It Out Friday 06/22/07

Waiting for a punchline? Read on.

If you look at my archives on the side of this page, you will notice that there aren't any entries for May. May was a particularly busy month for me as I was on tour for all but one day!

On my one day off, May 12th, I went on a busman's holiday and visited Jamestown on the anniversary weekend with my brother/cousin and stepmother/cousin. My stepmother had visited Jamestown in 1957 and her father, my cousin as well, had visited in 1907! So it's a bit of a family tradition and important for us to pay respects to our ancestors who settled in Jamestown.

We were more interested in Jamestown Island that day and attended lectures, watched demonstrations, and my stepmother and brother were particularly engrossed in the excavations and the new museum of archeology called the Archaearium

While we were on the top of the mound opposite the church listening to the findings of the archaeologists, I noticed a color guard carrying an American flag as well as a Polish one, marching briskly past the ruins of the old church

I remembered that for years the National Park Service had leaflets printed in Polish at their visitors' center because Jamestown was also a Polish shrine.

Knowing that I have a bit of Polish somewhere in my mosaic background (through my maternal grandfather), I deserted my British-based relatives and proceeded to follow the Polish guard until they stopped in front of the statue of John Smith overlooking the James River.

These were members of The Polish Pioneers of Jamestown.

The Poles in Jamestown

On October 1, 1608, the Mary and Margaret, the first supply ship to Jamestown after the founding of the colony, carried 5 Poles and Pomeranian Germans (referred to as 'Dutchmen') who were hired by the London Company at the suggestion of either Captain John Smith or Captain Christopher Newport. (John Smith took the credit.)

Smith knew the worth of the Poles after spending a few years in Poland and having fought beside them against the Turks in Hungary. The Poles were known to be fierce, capable, resourceful, great tradesmen, and superb craftsmen and artisans; they had a near monopoly on glass and the naval trades. Newport had traded extensively with the Poles.

These men were expected to develop the first export industry in British America, glass, as well as utilize their skills in pitchmaking, potash, timber (for shipbuilding), and military training to bolster the struggling colony.

When the Jamestown Settlers were having problems getting fresh water, it was the Poles who dug the first wells to help alleviate the problem and bring the first reliable source of safe drinking water.

John Smith was extremely pleased with these industrious workman, and requested that more Poles be sent. More did come with their families.

In 1619, Governor Sir George Yeardley issued a call for an Assembly meeting to set up the first representative legislative assembly in the new world. By charter and decree, only the British Virginians were allowed to vote. The Poles, being foreign born and many, Roman Catholic, were excluded.

After having endured years of hardship and labor in helping to sustain the settlement, the Polish Virginians felt insulted. 'No vote, no work' was their defiant rallying cry! Michal Lowicki, Zbigniew Stefanski, Jan Nata, Jan Brogdan, Karol Zrenica, and Stanislas Sadowski led the strike.

Their value and contributions to the colony and the effect it would have on the export industry persuaded the Virginia Company to include them, overturning the vote of the House of Burgesses; thus the Polish and German families became fully franchised into the colony.

Through this work-stoppage in 1619, the Poles became the first in America to strike to gain their civil rights, 361 years before Lech Walesa's Solidarity strike in Gdansk (for which he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983).

October 1st will mark the 400th anniversary of the Polish presence at Jamestown and the descendants of the original Polish settlers, The Polish Pioneers in Jamestown will be there just as they were on May 12th (pictured above) as well as Poles from all over the nation. However, you don't have to be Polish to attend, all are invited!)

The Polish inclusion in the all-British colony was America's epiphany for future immigration and civil rights.

And that's no joke.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Touring with Students:

Most student tour groups visit Jamestown Settlement which exhibits a re-creation of the fort, three ships, Chickahominy village, and splendid museum. Perhaps they might visit the glassblowing house. So many groups never venture beyond the glassblowing house onto the original site of Jamestown. That is the most fascinating part! The National Park Service and The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA) have maintained the site in an almost pristine setting. One can see the original foundations of the later settlement, the ruins of the church (the site of the beginnings of democracy in the new world), historic cemetery, excavations, and the new Archaearium (archeological museum). The Park Service has a fantastic new visitors' center which includes a museum and film. One can get curriculum-based tours and activities through both the NPS and APVA.

School groups need to have a fee-waiver letter to get in free, all others have to pay the National Park entrance fees, unless one has a National Park Pass.

Interesting Websites:

Jamestown Island National Park Service

Jamestown Rediscovery - APVA

Polish Pioneers in Jamestown

Polish American Anniversary Celebration Committee

Courtly Lives

Historic Jamestown

NPS Archeology