New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

Most people, I believe, think of museums as natural history museums (maybe with mummies), art museums, or historical sites, such as plantation homes with vintage furnishings. New Orleans has many of those, but there are some really unique museums here also. One, in particular, is the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum on Chartres Street, in the French Quarter.

From my childhood, I remember the soda fountains that were located in almost all of the pharmacies (drugstores). Often, I wondered what brought about the marriage of a pharmacy, and the soda fountain, serving up soft drinks, sodas, ice cream sundaes, and banana splits. I just found my answer right here, after all of these decades, during my tour.

The Pharmacy Museum is located in the very location of the apothecary shop opened in 1823 by Louis J. Dufilho, America's first licensed pharmacist. Inside the museum is an extensive collection of actual apothecary jars containing the original ingredients used to prepare the medicinal compounds of the day. In addition, there are numerous medical instruments, optical prosthetic devices, eyeglasses of the period, and implements used for procedures that I prefer not to think about.

As you enter, the first real stopper is that big white ceramic jar labeled "Leeches", sitting right next to a vintage brass cash register. The tour guide takes you from one showcase to another, describing how the pharmacist made pills, cachets, perfumes, and formulated potions of all kinds. Included is a sampling of voodoo potions, such as the famous "Love Potion No. 9". All of these patent medicines, remedies, and apothecary jars are displayed in hand carved, glass front cabinets that would cost a kings ransom today, if they could be obtained at all.

At the back of the shop, you see the pharmacist's work area, with "ancient" microscopes, a mortar and pestle, and methods of recording and storing prescriptions. Also on display, are a couple of wooden blenders which were used to mix talcum powder and alum for use in purifying river water, which was otherwise consumed directly from the Mississippi River.

Through the door at the rear, I went out to the courtyard, then proceeded upstairs. There, I saw an old wheel chair, and a black leather physician's bag. Doctors once carried medical instruments and medicines in these bags when making house calls. House calls? Why yes, I remember when doctors visited the sick, unlike today, where it is the other way around.

Oh, yes, you want to know about the soda fountain. Well, in those days, it seems that the pharmacist's ability to formulate effective medicines was exceeded by his ability to create really nasty tasting things. The customer would be seated with his medicine at a little marble counter. Behind the counter was a soda water dispenser from which the pharmacist would mix a fruit flavored nectar or phosphate drink, as a chaser. It became so popular, that customers came in just for the "soda".

By the way, I hear that the use of leeches is returning. Yuk!