Be Excellent To Each Other

One of our friends Terry works for the NJ DEP. And one of the projects she has been working on is the Dr. Still Office Historic Site, in nearby Medford, NJ. 

And this past Saturday was a special for Terry. and all the folks involved with the Dr Still Site, the grand opening of the new Visitor Center, which is also a mini-museum. And well worth a visit.

The site of the Visitor Center was was acquired by the state about a year ago and all involved did a fantastic job turning into a much needed focal point for the site. Sadly, the other two buildings on the State Property are in no shape to host events.

The house shown above is alas no more. But the office building to the left still stands, and is currently undergoing restoration. 

Dr Still was the son of a freed slave, self taught (he was denied entry to medical school) and studied the medicinal uses of plants. 

The practice of medicine was a bit different in the mid 1800's. It wasn't until the around the First World War that medicine as we know it, as a true scientific discipline, came into its own. But in that sense Dr Still was ahead of his time (in more ways than one).

A black man, practicing medicine, and being very successful not long after the civil war.

While not the actual desk used by the good doctor, it is a period piece (and similar to one my grandmother had). 

And if you look closely at the jars on the shelves above the desk, you'll see one labeled ginger. Which might be from plants growing in our yard, that we gave to Terry to grow at the Dr Still Site, which we in turn had obtained form our friend Kim's garden, when she sold her house. Pretty cool. 

The work done by men (and it was mostly men) such as Dr Still set the stage for the science which would bring us modern pain killers and antibiotics. But then it was seeing what plants could be used to provide relief for various ailments.

Again, period pieces, but in the center is Dr Still's recipe for cough balsam.

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

Look closely, and you'll see the recipe calls for two gallons of water and ten pounds (!) of sugar. 

It also calls for Comfrey root and on Sunday we gave our friend Kim three Comfrey plants, for the garden at her new home.

In addition to playing a steel tongue drum, which provided a wonderful sonic backdrop to our visit, the musician is modeling a shirt (similar to the one I'm wearing as I type this; mine's the short sleeve version) with a saying that sums up Dr Still's practice, "There's an Herb for that".

🩺  🧪  🩺  🌡  🩺

The museum also houses an Underground Railroad Exhibit. Which to further quote Bill and Ted was a heinous period in human history.

I found the exhibit quite moving. Not the least because of what is happening in the world today. 

Dr Still's younger brother, William Still, was resident of Philadelphia, an ardent abolitionist, and an agent of the Underground Railroad. 

And fought battles still be waged today. And while we've make real progress over the years and in my lifetime, there is still much to be done.

🚂  🚂  🚂

"We are apt to found our beliefs on the many beliefs

of others which look to us so plausible. We adapt

these things to our notions without just

consideration which envelops us in the most pitiable

mental darkness"

Dr James Still, 1877

Words sadly still very true today.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but it still amazes me that one group of humans can treat another so heinously, often for the most trivial of reasons. And without a moments thought. Melanin concentration, really?

I'll close where I started, again with Bill and Ted:

Be Excellent To Each Other