During the Texas Army’s stay at Bernardo’s Plantation from March 31 to April 13, disease was rampant. One in ten men caught the measles, while others suffered from the flu, whooping cough, mumps and dysentery. Doctors such as Dr. Labadie and Dr. Jones treated men at the plantation for their maladies, using a variety of natural materials and chemicals to create medicine to aid their suffering. Whenever pre-made medicine ran out, doctors had to turn to the environment around them to restock their supplies, using common natural remedies like willow bark to aid their patients’ suffering.
For this Demo Day, venture to the San Jacinto monument to learn about the medical techniques used in the 1830s. Visitors will learn about the four humors, grind up traditional remedies with a mortar and pestle, and even get to see demonstrations of real 19th century medical equipment!