((PKG)) APOTHECARY MUSEUM
((Banner: Dragon’s Blood & Unicorn Root))
((Reporter/Camera: Deborah Block))
((Adapted by: Martin Secrest))
((Map: Alexandria, Virginia))
((NATS))
((LAUREN GLEASON, MANAGER, STABLER-LEADBEATER APOTHECARY MUSUEM))
So, in 1792, when this business was originally founded, it was an apothecary. It was called an apothecary, and over the years that it operated under the founder’s son and grandsons eventually, and son-in-law, it slowly became known as a pharmacy. And the business continues on, all the way until 1933, when they go bankrupt during the Depression. Basically, just bad business decisions is what led to their eventual demise.
((NATS))
((JIM WILLIAMS, TOUR GUIDE, STABLER-LEADBETTER APOTHECARY MUSEUM))
When they walk into that upper room, especially if they’re Harry Potter fans, they are transported. They believe. And thank God our director, Gretchen, said, ‘Leave it alone.’ She said, ‘Don’t even rearrange it. Just leave it the way it is.’ And it has that nice feeling, it’s sort of dark up there. You’ve got Dragon’s Blood right here, and then you’ve got, you know, Wolfsbane right there. Unicorn Root, they’re all right there. You can just point them out very easily with your flashlight.
((NATS))
((CALLIE STAPP, CURATOR, STABLER-LEADBEATER APOTHECARY MUSUEM))
These apothecary cabinets that you’re looking at would have been very typical for the end of the 18th century and the early part of the 19th century. These would have been where all of the raw ingredients that were not liquids would have been stored. So, barks, solids, herbs, things like that would have been stored like this. And so, the apothecary or their apprentice would have been able to pull out the raw ingredients and use them to mix up medicines and remedies for their customers. These have been in place, probably more or less, for a little over 200 years at this point.
((NATS))
((JIM WILLIAMS, TOUR GUIDE, STABLER-LEADBETTER APOTHECARY MUSEUM))
And here’s powdered aconite. That’s Wolfsbane. So, if you’re having werewolf trouble, it will get you through to the next full moon. But the practical use was for gout and joint pain. But also, if you’re having werewolves, this will take care of it, at least for a month.