While functioning as a laboratory, Nichols was used by many prominent scientists. In the late 1920s to early 1930s, Dr. William Salant, assisted by Dr. Martha Washburn, was the head of experimental pharmacology at Nichols.

This photo shows a corner of a room in Nichols. Under the window is a water bath by which the rate of hemolysis of red blood cells by destructive agents is measured. To its left is a “Stufenphotometer,” which measures the amount of light that passes through suspensions of various kinds of cells.