My name is Robert Jordan and I am the apothecary who dispenses medicines at Perry's Country Store. I guess you could say that I cook up and prepare medical recipes to help heal those who are sick. Many recipes included herbs, minerals, and pieces of animals (meats, fats, skins) that were ingested, rubbed on the body, or used as aromatherapy. I sale patented and proprietary medicines as well as medicines that I make from imported ingredients. These ingredients included plant, animal, chemical and mineral materials. Liquids were the most common form of medicine and included tinctures and spirits, syrups, and decoctions and infusions. While all this sounds somewhat strange, let me tell you my story. I remember as a child, my Grandfather was sick with a fever and it didn't seem like he was getting any better. My Grandmother had given him some "home cure" that she had gotten from the "Wishing Lady". You see, my Grandmother believed in mystical magic or healings from the earth. The "Wishing Lady" was someone who knew how to make medicines from herbs, roots, and other wild flowers. Most of the 'hill' folks believed in her ability to bring healing to all of those who fell sick. My Grandfather had not gotten any better after several potions and elixirs. After several bouts of bloodletting, he began to slip away. I remember that Rev. Jones came over and prayed with the family and with him, Mr. Parker, a Apothecary from New Town arrived with some "newfangled" medication. He told us that my Grandfather was suffering from a virus that was affecting his heart. He had a bottle with small tablets made from Astragalus root which acts against viral infections of the respiratory tract and heart.
