This historical pharmacy was the location of the first United States pharmacy under the license of Louis Joseph Dufilho. He was of Portuguese decent, studied in France and came to New Orleans in 1823.
In 1850, he sold the business to Dr. Joseph Dupas, a Civil War physician and apothecary. Well into the early 1900's the building came under disrepair. The mayor of New Orleans acquired the deed and designated this to be a historical museum. The apothecary has been a museum since 1950.
The museum has two floors of exhibits - the first floor contains a complete replica of an operating apothecary, including a soda fountain from 1855, which is not in operation because of lead pipes. There are displays of blood letting equipment, Voodoo potions, and herbs and drugs used during the period. This was prior to the Food and Drug Administration Controls so all liquid medicine included at least 25 percent alcohol, mixed with varying degrees of opium and cocaine.
There is a prescription counter which shows how a pharmacist prepared the drugs and filled them in the vintage bottles. Vintage period bottles can be purchased from the small gift store section. These are authentic and not reproductions, acquired from Max Sampson's closed pharmacy.
An interesting section of the second floor is a nineteenth Century Sick Room which includes wheelchairs, crutches, a bed from this period, inhalers, numerous types and styles of period spectacles and other visual aides.
Outside is a wonderful courtyard which has benches for rest and viewing the various flowers that are grown to show the nature of the plants. Look for Aloe, for burns and other applications; Jasmine, for settling your stomach; and Angel's Trumpet's, a blooming plant that was dried and smoked for asthma suffers. A drop of the juice of the Trumpet plant dilated the eyes.
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