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| Revolutionary War re-enactment, Middleton Place, Charleston, S.C. |
I soon discovered that re-enactment army surgeon Larry Tillman, at the encampment at Middleton Place this weekend is himself a medical school professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Medicine has a little more to offer these days.
At that time they were big on bleeding and purging. They seemed to want their patients leaking from everywhere....bleeding, purging, cupping and carefully placed leeches. If that didn't cure a soldier, they had hacksaws to cut something off. The round dishes in the front show the size of the vaccination wound from smallpox vaccinations at the time. Yikes. These are the good old days of medicine right now.
I have the good doctor's email (oooops) address because I promised to send him a picture of an antique medical kit someone brought to me. I have a sneaky feeling what I have is more Civil War period. I don't see much evidence of kits in the 1780's.
At that time they were big on bleeding and purging. They seemed to want their patients leaking from everywhere....bleeding, purging, cupping and carefully placed leeches. If that didn't cure a soldier, they had hacksaws to cut something off. The round dishes in the front show the size of the vaccination wound from smallpox vaccinations at the time. Yikes. These are the good old days of medicine right now.
I have the good doctor's email (oooops) address because I promised to send him a picture of an antique medical kit someone brought to me. I have a sneaky feeling what I have is more Civil War period. I don't see much evidence of kits in the 1780's.
I was hoping for a blood-drenched hacksaw and a bottle of brandy somewhere among the tools of the trade.
ReplyDeleteThere was a hacksaw. I think that is the handle on the far left. Looks like I cropped it out.
DeleteThe idea of blood sucking leeches makes me very happy about the state of medicine today. I've been gone for a few days and need to play catch up now.
ReplyDeleteEwww....I had a leech on my on a hike in India. It didn't take any time at all and I had long pants and socks on. On a brief walk it was up my leg and above my sock burrowing in for a feast. Gross.
DeleteLet's not forget we were using leeches last century at St Francis through our pharmacy. We kept them in a large glass jar. We've come so far.
ReplyDeleteDid we really need them Rick or is it just a gimmick. Seems like there would be other ways to accomplish the same thing without me throwing up at the idea. ;)
DeleteSurgeons requested them after surgery. There were a couple who swore by them. Aids in the healing process. We don't question our surgeons when they want something. We get it.
DeleteOurs not to question why. Ours but to do or die.
Delete:)
Tis true, til we retire.
DeleteAs I recall there is a very interesting Civil War medicine museum in Manassas, VA. You would enjoy it if you're ever there. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteS
I would enjoy it. I saw some good medical stuff in England years ago. Of course, I've been in this business for long enough I used some good vintage equipment myself.
DeleteThey certainly did have some strange ideas, but I guess that's how things progress by trial and experiment..I bet there are still some places in the world that use leeches even now, as you so succinctly said Joan ewwwww!!
ReplyDeleteHey, they're still using maggots to clean wounds, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteTo quote Filch (from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone): "God, I miss the screaming!"
ReplyDeleteThey have really weird ideasm, but treating with leeches seemed to me pretty revolutionary and effective for blooding. To tell the truth, I am scary of leeches and they are so snotty.
ReplyDeletechilling.
ReplyDeleteMy 12 year old son is doing a report on medicine during the rev war. I was wondering if you'd be so kind as to give us permission to use your photos, I'm also trying to teach him about copyrights :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Email me?
He is welcome to use the photos. I can't email you without an email address but perhaps you will see it here.
Delete