19th-Century Artifacts

Medicine on the Plantation

Several artifacts uncovered at Drayton Hall reflect the medical endeavors of Dr. Charles Drayton I and his son Dr. Charles Drayton II.

A pair of fleams, for example, would have been used by the Draytons for phlebotomy or bloodletting. The depletion technique of bloodletting was viewed as the first line of defense against a wide array of colonial and antebellum ailments including sore throat, chest pains and fainting.

The Drayton fleams, consisting of iron blades in a brass case, would have unfolded similarly to a pocket knife for use in opening veins.

Additional medical materials used for by the Draytons include a 'delft' apothecary jar. This shallow, bowl-like vessel would have been used for storing ointments or medicinal herbs.