Emile Doo's Chemist Shop & Physic Garden
Museum | Dudley | England | United Kingdom
The Emile Doo's Chemist Shop & Physic Garden is a historic pharmacy located in the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, England. Originally built in 1886 as a tailor shop, it was opened as a pharmacy by Harold Emile Doo in 1929 and operated until 1968. After closing and restoration, it was rebuilt in the museum and now showcases the pharmacy and a herb garden that illustrates the medical practices of the time.
History and significance
Before the introduction of the National Health Service, local pharmacies like Emile Doo's played a central role in community healthcare. They provided free medical advice, basic first aid, and weekly weighing of infants. Emile Doo, known as "Jack," was a well-known figure in Netherton and ran the pharmacy until his retirement in 1968.
Equipment and exhibitions
Wafer machine: A device used to make thin, soluble wafers for medicines that were dissolved in water.
Paper folder: Before the widespread use of pills, medications were often administered as powders packaged in paper packets.
Suppository mold: A device used to make suppositories that were poured into a base of cocoa butter or glycerin.
These displays illustrate the practical aspects of pharmacy work in the past.
Physic Garden
Behind the pharmacy is the Physic Garden, a traditional herb garden that reflects the medical practices of the time. Here, medicinal plants were grown that were used in the pharmacy.
Special features
The pharmacy and herb garden provide an authentic glimpse into medical practices of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and are a significant part of the Black Country Living Museum.
