As the flu pandemic raged, a desperate call went out in Richmond, VA, in the fall of 1918. White doctors needed volunteers, particularly nurses, to help care for the endless flow of sick patients at…
Category: Health & Medicine
Book leads to Sojourner Truth & Booker T. Washington health-spa visits
Posted in Black history, Ephemera/Paper/Documents, and Health & Medicine
The thin paperback manual was among a group of cookbooks I had picked up at an auction. I bought the lot because it contained a copy of a book I already own called “Parasols Is…
How did those false teeth end up here?
Posted in Health & Medicine, history, and Personal items
The auction-house staffer was nonchalant, but we two auction-goers were astounded. I had seen them first: sets of false teeth with pink gums attached to heavy metal plates in a glass case with other items.…
Even an ordinary hand dryer has a bit of history
Posted in Culture, Equipment, and Health & Medicine
I had washed my hands – as we all should – with soap from the dispenser and hot water in the auction-house restroom when I turned to my left and was faced with two choices:…
Pedometer from childhood hero Jack Armstrong & Wheaties
Posted in Advertising, Children, collectibles, and Health & Medicine
Before the weather started to chill, I went out and bought a pedometer. I wanted to measure the number of miles (or mile) I walked along the uphills and downhills of my neighborhood. I didn’t want…
Identifying the tip end of antique safety razor
Posted in collectibles, Health & Medicine, and Personal items
The auctioneer was eager to show me one of the small items in the glass case. He had already shown me several others, including a grouping of turtles, and was especially excited about this particular…
A fierce skeleton soldier armed & ready
Posted in Health & Medicine, and Military
I had just passed the Blues Brothers Jake and Elwood in their trademark sunglasses and black suits singing their hearts out when I rounded the curve in the room at the auction house and saw…
My turn to ask – what exactly is this?
Posted in food, Health & Medicine, Kitchen, and Performers
I get emails all the time from readers wondering about the value of their items. This week, I’m asking readers to help me identify some items I’ve seen at auction. I’m not as interested in…
The auction-house regular was telling me about his place in Panama where he sold items for prices he couldn’t get in this country. As I listened, I was momentarily interrupted by a waft of tobacco…
What torturous chair is this?
Posted in furniture, Health & Medicine, Medicine, and Unusual
The metal chair with the white seat looked like some kind of torture equipment – used either by the prison system to end a mind or some sadistic hospital to control it. I stumbled onto…