The Surgeons Apprentice - other skills

Fifty years ago (1837) bleeding was still in general use for many urgent diseases, and with decided benefit - I remember a young woman who had walked rapidly about three miles on a cold winter's morning the wind had irritated her lungs so that she was in great pain, and could hardly breathe - I bled her to about 16 ounces of blood, and in a short time afterwards, she was free from pain, and could breathe freely.

Many weakly people were improrperly bled, who required nourishment and stimulants instead of evacuants - two of my lecturers were fond of ordering leeches, when I though food and warm clothing of more service.

Several sad cases of drowning took place in the river or docks - unfortunate women would do so, rather than lead a life of reproach - drunken men would tumble into the canal, never to wake again - and young men of vigour would unaccountably get drowned although good swimmers - from my after experience I consider that death in many cases arises from spasm of the epiglottis or windpipe - Several cases of insanity came under my notice - one that of a young woman who had been promised marriage by the mate of a vessel who omitted to do so, and the poor creature had to be sent to the Lunatic Asylum - another case was a middleaged timber merchant who about once a year closed his books, and walked to the Asylum, where he would reamin for a few months, and then return in his righmind to business - three times he had done so when I became acquainted with him.