Collection:
Juneau—Douglas City Museum
Object ID:
2005.50.003
Accession#:
2005.50
Credit Line:
Donated by Jim Geraghty.
Object Name:
Bottle, medicine
Description:
A large, cylindrical —shaped, clear glass bottle with sloping shoulders and a short neck. Embossed on the front in circle is, a crest with anchor and medical pole, Marine Hospital Service 1798 US 1871.
Notes:
Marine Hospital Service:
Founded by act of Congress in 1798, the Marine Hospital Service was the first federal—level mechanism to provide publicly—funded health care and disease prevention in the United States. It was the point of origin for the Public Health Service and thus such present day institutions as the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a host of other federal—level health programs. The Marine Hospitals, as their name suggests, were hospitals constructed at key sea and river ports across the nation to provide health care for merchant marine sailors. Aside from the well—being of these sailors, the hospitals provided a key monitoring and gate—keeping function against pathogenic diseases.

As the nation grew, the scope of Marine Hospital Service's duties also grew to include a variety of public health functions and in 1912 the name of the service was changed to the Public Health Service to encompass its diverse and changing mission. Over time, the hospitals of the service were also expanded to include research and prevention work as well as the care of patients. Aside from merchant seamen, members of the military, immigrants, Native Americans, and people affected by chronic and epidemic diseases found a source for health care in the PHS and its hospitals.
People:
Geraghty, Jim
Search Terms:
first aid
maritime
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