Anna Dhody, a former curator at the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia, began her own YouTube series featuring strange historical items and artifacts, titled “What’s That For?” 

One of her most recent videos on the channel takes a look at historical medical artifacts from the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, writes Alan Yu for WHYY.  

The museum opened in 1916 and was curated by historian Henry Chapman Mercer. 

According to Cory Amsler, the Bucks County Historical Society’s senior director of exhibits, collections, and historic properties, Mercer collected baskets, boats, tools, chairs, and everyday items from the 19th century. 

“This was the trash of the 19th century as far as most people were concerned,” said Amsler.  

Mercer displayed the items in interesting ways, forcing visitors to see them from unique angles, with chairs and boats hanging from the ceiling. 

Dhody, who now runs her own research institute, was fascinated by the medical instruments, devices, and drugs on display, such as the bloodletting tools. 

“You’re looking at hundreds of years of evolution and advancement in medicine in these objects,” she said. 

In her videos, Dhody shows an object and, after giving viewers some time to guess, provides the answer and some background information. 

Read more about Anna Dhody, her YouTube series, and her trip to see items from the Mercer Museum in Doylestown in WHYY. 

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