Lesson in Leeching

The names yellow fever, malaria, and cholera struck fear in the hearts of those living in 19^th century Texas as medical doctors were simply helpless to save the unfortunate souls who contracted these diseases.  Giving birth might mean the death of both mother and child.  An uncontrolled infection might cost someone their life or limb.  Common problems which attack the body as it ages would often be misdiagnosed or have no fitting remedies for the symptoms.  Nineteenth century physicians often turned to leeches, blood-letting, purging, sweating, amputation, and mercury or arsenic based potions as they worked to cure what ailed their patients.  Those things sound rather barbaric compared to what we experience today, but physicians in the 1850s had no clue such things as germs and bacteria existed or how to successfully treat the many maladies and injuries frontier folks suffered from. 

 Join us as we explore the seemingly backwards and sometimes unusual ways to treat “desperate diseases” which required “desperate measures” as doctors practiced medicine in Texas in the 1850s.  Visitors will get a sample of what it might have been like had they sought the help of a doctor or what they thought might be a doctor. 

“Lesson in Leeching” will be held Saturday and Sunday, February 16^th & 17^th, from 10:00 AM until 4:30 PM at Barrington Living History Farm, home of Dr. Anson Jones, last president of the Republic of Texas. It is located within Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historical Park off Highway 105 between Navasota and Brenham on FM 1155.