In the Middle Ages man used painful and traumatic methods to treat many incurable diseases, which were carried out by trained barbers trained in this profession over time, before the arrival of modern science medicine.
The writer Natalia Zalco - in a report published by the Russian site "FPR" - that people in the Middle Ages were not treated fairly, and that the nobles were only treated by real doctors, while the general public treated by non-specialists working Originally two barbers.
The methods used to treat the general public are bloodshed, put leeches, tooth extractions, amputations, and other harsh methods, without giving the patient an anesthetic or painkiller, so as to ease the aches caused by these methods.
| Medieval barbers trained in medicine and made several medical interventions (Getty Images) |
Barbers as doctors
The author explained that medieval doctors did not perform any surgery at all, and that their tasks are limited to monitoring the wealthy patients, and make a diagnosis, as well as trying to develop methods of treatment.
On the other hand, the barbers who originally worked as barbers did not receive an academic education in the field of medicine, which allowed them to practice this work, and they had to work several years for a barber practicing medicine in addition to shaving to learn the secrets of the profession from him, and then open his own shop to treat people.
Barber-trained doctors perform tasks that educated doctors refuse to do after years of training with a barber by treating open wounds, burns, rashes, fractures, sexually transmitted diseases, skin and infectious diseases, and other diseases.
The barbers also perform amputation and ironing for patients and have, over time, improved and refined their practical medicine skills, enabling them to compete with educated elite doctors.
| Rotten blood sucking is a common medieval medical practice (Getty Images) |
The most common treatment methods
The method of diagnosis of the disease according to urine color, odor and taste is the most common in the Middle Ages, while rotten blood is drawn from the body using leeches, and barbers later began to incise the patient's body and wound his vein for treatment, while the most common medical procedure during war was amputation, from Without taking any anesthetic or pain medication.
The writer reported that the first barbers who performed surgery in the Middle Ages appeared in monasteries throughout Europe, which in 1000 hired people who master the profession.
Over time, barbers were allowed to perform medical operations, such as the extraction of rotten blood through the use of leeches, before Catholic monasteries in Europe opened hospitals for the poor, which contributed to the expansion of barbers' work.
| Applying barbers appeared in monasteries and then spread in cities (Getty Images) |
Rules
In the 13th century a law was passed in France that obliged academic doctors to take an oath to not perform any surgeries, further expanding the activity of barbers, who are now operating in monasteries and cities.
In 1375, the work of barbers was organized by dividing them into two categories: the first included the ordinary barbers who had the right to hairdress the people, the second barbers who could perform the surgery, while the decree required barbers who wanted to engage in medical practice to obtain a license.
Although barbers have improved their treatment over the years, these methods have been getting harsher.