Philadelphia Antiques Show 2018

American Surgery. A notice of op- erations was posted around town for those interested in attending. The most common types of sur- gery were amputations, removal of surface tumors, bladder stones, and repair of hernias. There was no sterile technique (Dr. Lister’s airborne germ theory was not de- veloped until 1865). Surgeons washed their hands after surgery, not before. There were no surgical gowns—coats were used to protect the physicians clothing from any fluids that might escape the pa- tient. Visitor’s unanimously agree they would choose today’s surgical technique over those of the past, although taking a glance at the historic surgical tools on display one realizes some things have not changed dramatically. A scalpel is easily identified from any time pe- riod. Instruments would have been wiped off if they seemed too dirty, but otherwise, they would remain in continuous use. No antibiotic existed for those who contracted an infection. Medicine was still plant based in the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1774, some physicians asked the hospital to establish a botanical garden where the plants used for medicines could be grown. The Board of Managers agreed, and sent word to their friends in Lon- don. Unfortunately, nothing came of the matter due to the outbreak of the American Revolution. For nearly two hundred years, the Pennsylvania Hospital was with- out the desired medicinal garden. That changed in 1974 when the Philadelphia Committee of the Garden Club of American chose to establish a medicinal garden at the Pennsylvania Hospital as a Bicen- tennial project. It was designed by noted horticulturist Martha Gar- ra and features many of the same shrubs and plants found in the 18 th Century physic gardens. The Physic Garden is maintained by volunteer gardeners who work in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Hospital grounds crew. Together, they provide an oasis of beauty and healing in the middle of Center City Philadelphia. The garden is a return to the notion of therapeutic landscapes—outdoor spaces that were good for the mind and body. Healing took on many forms in the hospital’s history. Our fine art collection has been part of the process for many years. On Sept. 1, 1800, the Board of Managers of Pennsylvania Hospital wrote a letter to noted artist Benjamin West commissioning a painting. The Managers discussed the mission of the hospital in their letter, informing him that it was es- tablished to aid the sick poor and the mentally ill in the Philadelphia region. Replying in a letter dated July 8, 1801, West accepted their offer, and informed them that he had chosen a theme akin to the mission of the hospital. Using Matthew 21: 14-15 as his basis, West proposed a painting 15 feet wide, 16 feet high. The Managers were pleased by West’s accep- tance, but after a flurry of early Psysick Garden Surgical Amphitheatre, image by Robert Neroni Pennsylvania Hospital Historic Collections W 138 W