Pestilence, Potions, and Persistence Early Florida Medicine

Early Hospitals

Marine Hospital Service

Even before the establishment of the State Board of Health in 1889, the Marine Hospital Service maintained quarantine and inspection facilities at several ports. The federal presence as a protector against diseases at Florida's ports remained in place after the founding of the Board, and the many army and naval bases all required health infrastructure.

United States Marine hospital and quarantine station

United States Marine hospital and quarantine station: Mullet Key, Florida (ca. 1915)

Image number: PR07439

Polk County Hospital for indigents and blacks

Polk County Hospital for indigents and blacks (ca. 1926)

Image number: PR08707

Hospital number 2: Jacksonville, Florida

Hospital number 2: Jacksonville, Florida (1864)

Image number: Rc02588

Quarantine station for Fort Jefferson: Dry Tortugas, Florida

Quarantine station for Fort Jefferson: Dry Tortugas, Florida (1900)

Image number: Rc05174

Sand Hills Hospital: Jacksonville, Florida

Sand Hills Hospital: Jacksonville, Florida (1888)

Image number: RC08320

View of white female convalescent yard, Florida State Hospital

View of white female convalescent yard, Florida State Hospital (1905)

Image number: PR01531

Florida State Hospital staff in late nineteenth century: Chattahoochee, Florida

Florida State Hospital staff in late nineteenth century: Chattahoochee, Florida (c. 1890)

Image number: N028803

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