Everybody knows they used to bleed you, and we know we don’t want to be bled. This book containing material from the Smithsonian collection has some pictures and details that will make you wonder how anybody survived. It has me going Oh my God! You know your curious, so take a peek.
Read the html link to see the pictures.
Bloodletting Instruments in the National Museum of History and Technology
Figure 13.—Interior of square scarificator- Argh! This was used and then cupping preformed.
Figure 20.—Staffordshire leech jars - Yes highbrow leech jars.
A historian friend of mine keeps an antique bloodletting device on his desk. It’s about the size of a couple of decks of cards stacked, maybe smaller. You cock it, hold it against the skin, and pull the switch, and a row of small blades slices across you. Or you would if you were trying to bleed yourself.
Fascinating - thanks for sharing! I bookmarked it so I can read the whole thing later. I adore oldey-timey medical stuff. Some of those devices look terrifying.
The jar with the word “Leeches” in huge letters across it would be great as a cookie jar.
“Yeah, just reach in and get yourself a cookie, kid.”
I suppose that’s just what happens when you get medical advice from hairstylists.