Hi, here's Jo. I'm late today because I'm a little bit ill and had a doctor's appointment. (Billy and Charlie are trying to do some work for me.) If I'd been weller I'd have had the gumption to do the blog last night! I'm generally very robust, and when I get ill I'm reminded to be very grateful to live today with so much excellent health care available.
Treatments in the past could be brutal, which might not have been so bad if they were effective. Many believe that Charles II died prematurely because of the violent "cures" applied and that Princess Charlotte's death in childbed could be put to tde account of her meddling doctor.
Browsing the annals of the Royal Society in the 18th century — Isn't the internet wonderful! — I came across an account of a 12 year old girl in an orphanage who got what seemed to be lock-jaw. It's clear that the name tetanus was still not in common use. To keep her alive they had to remove two teeth in order to feed her, which though unfortunate was doubtless a good idea. Beyond that, they couldn't help as her body gradually stiffened and contorted. They tried, though, and again perhaps we shouldn't criticize, but the poor child endured purging, blood-letting and blistering without any improvement and was wasting away.
There is a happy ending, however. The 1760s was the beginning of practical exploration of electricity and a doctor interested in that decided to apply electricity to the girl. Slowly, she was released from the tetanus and soon she was completely restored to health.
You can visit the Royal Society's site here. That page is about a new exhibition of 17th century books and you can click on them to learn more.
For obvious reasons most of us avoid realistic medical treatment in our historical novels, and I'm no exception. Would you like to see more of it? Would you like to see doctors as heroes? Somehow with heroines they're generally gentle herbal healers, which tends to ignore that a good part of a herbalist's trade would be in abortifacients and purges. People in the past were great believers in getting rid of disease by bleeding, sweating, and purging. 
BTW, cupping wasn't blood letting as such but a method of drawing blood and fluids out through the skin, taking any toxins with them, short term results shown on the right. If you want to know more, or even have it done, check out here.
What's the most memorable medical scene you remember from a historical romance? One commenter will received a copy of a Christmas collection that includes my novella The Wise Virgin, which begins with the memorable line, "They've stolen the Blessed Virgin Mary!"
Cheers,
Jo
I remember Mary Jo Putney’s SHATTERED RAINBOWS had a regency blood transfusion. Good thing the hero and the heroine had compatible blood types, something they didn’t know about then, or the cure would have killed them both.
I’ll like to see more professional men as heroes. Doctors, lawyers (although I have reservations about lawyers being up to any good), architects, engineers, and even merchants(gasp!). I think I’ve read too many regencies. I’ve overdosed on soldiers, too-rich noblemen, and, in general, gentlemen who are good in bed and not much else.
I remember Mary Jo Putney’s SHATTERED RAINBOWS had a regency blood transfusion. Good thing the hero and the heroine had compatible blood types, something they didn’t know about then, or the cure would have killed them both.
I’ll like to see more professional men as heroes. Doctors, lawyers (although I have reservations about lawyers being up to any good), architects, engineers, and even merchants(gasp!). I think I’ve read too many regencies. I’ve overdosed on soldiers, too-rich noblemen, and, in general, gentlemen who are good in bed and not much else.
I remember Mary Jo Putney’s SHATTERED RAINBOWS had a regency blood transfusion. Good thing the hero and the heroine had compatible blood types, something they didn’t know about then, or the cure would have killed them both.
I’ll like to see more professional men as heroes. Doctors, lawyers (although I have reservations about lawyers being up to any good), architects, engineers, and even merchants(gasp!). I think I’ve read too many regencies. I’ve overdosed on soldiers, too-rich noblemen, and, in general, gentlemen who are good in bed and not much else.
I remember Mary Jo Putney’s SHATTERED RAINBOWS had a regency blood transfusion. Good thing the hero and the heroine had compatible blood types, something they didn’t know about then, or the cure would have killed them both.
I’ll like to see more professional men as heroes. Doctors, lawyers (although I have reservations about lawyers being up to any good), architects, engineers, and even merchants(gasp!). I think I’ve read too many regencies. I’ve overdosed on soldiers, too-rich noblemen, and, in general, gentlemen who are good in bed and not much else.
I remember Mary Jo Putney’s SHATTERED RAINBOWS had a regency blood transfusion. Good thing the hero and the heroine had compatible blood types, something they didn’t know about then, or the cure would have killed them both.
I’ll like to see more professional men as heroes. Doctors, lawyers (although I have reservations about lawyers being up to any good), architects, engineers, and even merchants(gasp!). I think I’ve read too many regencies. I’ve overdosed on soldiers, too-rich noblemen, and, in general, gentlemen who are good in bed and not much else.
I confess that I have always believed that medicine and medical treatment is not good for you, and should be resorted to only when what it cures is worse than what it causes. 😉 This attitude was confirmed by not so much a medical scene as a post-medical situation — Annabel recovering from treatment in Edith Layton’s TO WED A STRANGER.
I did feel for the poor girl, bled and blistered and cupped and purged. Aspirin and orange juice is a much gentler treatment for the flu.
I confess that I have always believed that medicine and medical treatment is not good for you, and should be resorted to only when what it cures is worse than what it causes. 😉 This attitude was confirmed by not so much a medical scene as a post-medical situation — Annabel recovering from treatment in Edith Layton’s TO WED A STRANGER.
I did feel for the poor girl, bled and blistered and cupped and purged. Aspirin and orange juice is a much gentler treatment for the flu.
I confess that I have always believed that medicine and medical treatment is not good for you, and should be resorted to only when what it cures is worse than what it causes. 😉 This attitude was confirmed by not so much a medical scene as a post-medical situation — Annabel recovering from treatment in Edith Layton’s TO WED A STRANGER.
I did feel for the poor girl, bled and blistered and cupped and purged. Aspirin and orange juice is a much gentler treatment for the flu.
I confess that I have always believed that medicine and medical treatment is not good for you, and should be resorted to only when what it cures is worse than what it causes. 😉 This attitude was confirmed by not so much a medical scene as a post-medical situation — Annabel recovering from treatment in Edith Layton’s TO WED A STRANGER.
I did feel for the poor girl, bled and blistered and cupped and purged. Aspirin and orange juice is a much gentler treatment for the flu.
I confess that I have always believed that medicine and medical treatment is not good for you, and should be resorted to only when what it cures is worse than what it causes. 😉 This attitude was confirmed by not so much a medical scene as a post-medical situation — Annabel recovering from treatment in Edith Layton’s TO WED A STRANGER.
I did feel for the poor girl, bled and blistered and cupped and purged. Aspirin and orange juice is a much gentler treatment for the flu.
Oh, Linda already mentioned the blood transfusion in Shattered Rainbows. That was an overwhelming scene when I first read it, and it’s always stayed in my head.
Oh, Linda already mentioned the blood transfusion in Shattered Rainbows. That was an overwhelming scene when I first read it, and it’s always stayed in my head.
Oh, Linda already mentioned the blood transfusion in Shattered Rainbows. That was an overwhelming scene when I first read it, and it’s always stayed in my head.
Oh, Linda already mentioned the blood transfusion in Shattered Rainbows. That was an overwhelming scene when I first read it, and it’s always stayed in my head.
Oh, Linda already mentioned the blood transfusion in Shattered Rainbows. That was an overwhelming scene when I first read it, and it’s always stayed in my head.
You may be surprised at this but it is true: Some years ago I had a friend who survived a mastectomy and was doing well, but after a year she allowed a doctor to convince her to have reconstructive surgery. (I’m sure her husband had a lot to do with this.) Everything that could go wrong went wrong, and she nearly died. At one point they did use leeches to suck out the excess blood and fluid building up under her skin. It gave her the creeps, she said, but it worked.
You may be surprised at this but it is true: Some years ago I had a friend who survived a mastectomy and was doing well, but after a year she allowed a doctor to convince her to have reconstructive surgery. (I’m sure her husband had a lot to do with this.) Everything that could go wrong went wrong, and she nearly died. At one point they did use leeches to suck out the excess blood and fluid building up under her skin. It gave her the creeps, she said, but it worked.
You may be surprised at this but it is true: Some years ago I had a friend who survived a mastectomy and was doing well, but after a year she allowed a doctor to convince her to have reconstructive surgery. (I’m sure her husband had a lot to do with this.) Everything that could go wrong went wrong, and she nearly died. At one point they did use leeches to suck out the excess blood and fluid building up under her skin. It gave her the creeps, she said, but it worked.
You may be surprised at this but it is true: Some years ago I had a friend who survived a mastectomy and was doing well, but after a year she allowed a doctor to convince her to have reconstructive surgery. (I’m sure her husband had a lot to do with this.) Everything that could go wrong went wrong, and she nearly died. At one point they did use leeches to suck out the excess blood and fluid building up under her skin. It gave her the creeps, she said, but it worked.
You may be surprised at this but it is true: Some years ago I had a friend who survived a mastectomy and was doing well, but after a year she allowed a doctor to convince her to have reconstructive surgery. (I’m sure her husband had a lot to do with this.) Everything that could go wrong went wrong, and she nearly died. At one point they did use leeches to suck out the excess blood and fluid building up under her skin. It gave her the creeps, she said, but it worked.
Hope you get to feeling better, Jo, sans leeches, blood-letting and cupping of course!
I remember the series of scenes in Lisa Kleypas’s Devil in Winter after St. Vincent is shot. He begs Evie not to let the doctor bleed him after his wound is infected. The man had lost scads of blood and the doctor wanted to bleed him?? Fortunately she adhered to his wishes. Then later they irrigated the wound with this concoction of witch hazel, rose water, turpentine and other home remedies and sealed it over with honey. The thing is, much of what they used are things my Native American grandmother used to use when we were kids.
Hope you get to feeling better, Jo, sans leeches, blood-letting and cupping of course!
I remember the series of scenes in Lisa Kleypas’s Devil in Winter after St. Vincent is shot. He begs Evie not to let the doctor bleed him after his wound is infected. The man had lost scads of blood and the doctor wanted to bleed him?? Fortunately she adhered to his wishes. Then later they irrigated the wound with this concoction of witch hazel, rose water, turpentine and other home remedies and sealed it over with honey. The thing is, much of what they used are things my Native American grandmother used to use when we were kids.
Hope you get to feeling better, Jo, sans leeches, blood-letting and cupping of course!
I remember the series of scenes in Lisa Kleypas’s Devil in Winter after St. Vincent is shot. He begs Evie not to let the doctor bleed him after his wound is infected. The man had lost scads of blood and the doctor wanted to bleed him?? Fortunately she adhered to his wishes. Then later they irrigated the wound with this concoction of witch hazel, rose water, turpentine and other home remedies and sealed it over with honey. The thing is, much of what they used are things my Native American grandmother used to use when we were kids.
Hope you get to feeling better, Jo, sans leeches, blood-letting and cupping of course!
I remember the series of scenes in Lisa Kleypas’s Devil in Winter after St. Vincent is shot. He begs Evie not to let the doctor bleed him after his wound is infected. The man had lost scads of blood and the doctor wanted to bleed him?? Fortunately she adhered to his wishes. Then later they irrigated the wound with this concoction of witch hazel, rose water, turpentine and other home remedies and sealed it over with honey. The thing is, much of what they used are things my Native American grandmother used to use when we were kids.
Hope you get to feeling better, Jo, sans leeches, blood-letting and cupping of course!
I remember the series of scenes in Lisa Kleypas’s Devil in Winter after St. Vincent is shot. He begs Evie not to let the doctor bleed him after his wound is infected. The man had lost scads of blood and the doctor wanted to bleed him?? Fortunately she adhered to his wishes. Then later they irrigated the wound with this concoction of witch hazel, rose water, turpentine and other home remedies and sealed it over with honey. The thing is, much of what they used are things my Native American grandmother used to use when we were kids.
Thanks for the comments, everyone.
One thing I forgot the mention is that the common element of someone stitching up a wound is a no-no. That traps infection in. The wounds were kept open to drain.
Jo
Thanks for the comments, everyone.
One thing I forgot the mention is that the common element of someone stitching up a wound is a no-no. That traps infection in. The wounds were kept open to drain.
Jo
Thanks for the comments, everyone.
One thing I forgot the mention is that the common element of someone stitching up a wound is a no-no. That traps infection in. The wounds were kept open to drain.
Jo
Thanks for the comments, everyone.
One thing I forgot the mention is that the common element of someone stitching up a wound is a no-no. That traps infection in. The wounds were kept open to drain.
Jo
Thanks for the comments, everyone.
One thing I forgot the mention is that the common element of someone stitching up a wound is a no-no. That traps infection in. The wounds were kept open to drain.
Jo
Cupping reminded me of the scene in Zorba The Greek (the film). I don’t remember whether the book had that scene.
From a romantic historical, I’ll go with The Soldier and the Sage, by Richard G. Hubler, in which the soldier’s orderly prevents the searing of the shoulder socket, packing it instead and carting the soldier off the battle field to the sage, whose wife nurses the soldier.
Descriptions of doctors’ attempts to trace Lincoln’s head wound and a recent synopsis of a book on Garfield’s wound suggest medicine wasn’t well practiced in 1800s America.
Cupping reminded me of the scene in Zorba The Greek (the film). I don’t remember whether the book had that scene.
From a romantic historical, I’ll go with The Soldier and the Sage, by Richard G. Hubler, in which the soldier’s orderly prevents the searing of the shoulder socket, packing it instead and carting the soldier off the battle field to the sage, whose wife nurses the soldier.
Descriptions of doctors’ attempts to trace Lincoln’s head wound and a recent synopsis of a book on Garfield’s wound suggest medicine wasn’t well practiced in 1800s America.
Cupping reminded me of the scene in Zorba The Greek (the film). I don’t remember whether the book had that scene.
From a romantic historical, I’ll go with The Soldier and the Sage, by Richard G. Hubler, in which the soldier’s orderly prevents the searing of the shoulder socket, packing it instead and carting the soldier off the battle field to the sage, whose wife nurses the soldier.
Descriptions of doctors’ attempts to trace Lincoln’s head wound and a recent synopsis of a book on Garfield’s wound suggest medicine wasn’t well practiced in 1800s America.
Cupping reminded me of the scene in Zorba The Greek (the film). I don’t remember whether the book had that scene.
From a romantic historical, I’ll go with The Soldier and the Sage, by Richard G. Hubler, in which the soldier’s orderly prevents the searing of the shoulder socket, packing it instead and carting the soldier off the battle field to the sage, whose wife nurses the soldier.
Descriptions of doctors’ attempts to trace Lincoln’s head wound and a recent synopsis of a book on Garfield’s wound suggest medicine wasn’t well practiced in 1800s America.
Cupping reminded me of the scene in Zorba The Greek (the film). I don’t remember whether the book had that scene.
From a romantic historical, I’ll go with The Soldier and the Sage, by Richard G. Hubler, in which the soldier’s orderly prevents the searing of the shoulder socket, packing it instead and carting the soldier off the battle field to the sage, whose wife nurses the soldier.
Descriptions of doctors’ attempts to trace Lincoln’s head wound and a recent synopsis of a book on Garfield’s wound suggest medicine wasn’t well practiced in 1800s America.
I don’t remember a specific scene but Eloisa James’ When Beauty Tamed the Beast had a very forward thinking doctor in it and he was trying to find a more humane way of curing people from illnesses. That is one book in which I can say that I enjoyed medical descriptions. Hope you feel better soon Jo!
I don’t remember a specific scene but Eloisa James’ When Beauty Tamed the Beast had a very forward thinking doctor in it and he was trying to find a more humane way of curing people from illnesses. That is one book in which I can say that I enjoyed medical descriptions. Hope you feel better soon Jo!
I don’t remember a specific scene but Eloisa James’ When Beauty Tamed the Beast had a very forward thinking doctor in it and he was trying to find a more humane way of curing people from illnesses. That is one book in which I can say that I enjoyed medical descriptions. Hope you feel better soon Jo!
I don’t remember a specific scene but Eloisa James’ When Beauty Tamed the Beast had a very forward thinking doctor in it and he was trying to find a more humane way of curing people from illnesses. That is one book in which I can say that I enjoyed medical descriptions. Hope you feel better soon Jo!
I don’t remember a specific scene but Eloisa James’ When Beauty Tamed the Beast had a very forward thinking doctor in it and he was trying to find a more humane way of curing people from illnesses. That is one book in which I can say that I enjoyed medical descriptions. Hope you feel better soon Jo!
I don’t remember the author or the book, alas, and I hope it wasn’t by anybody here, but I do remember that the hero, a soldier, had been shot or stabbed in the lung and wasn’t expected to survive. As part of his treatment the heroine pounded him on the back while he laid face down over the edge of his bed so that he would cough up the blood and gunk in his lungs.
I had lung surgery once and had a drain instead, and though it hurt like hell (even with morphine) when they pulled the little tube out, I was very glad for modern medicine! Not being able to breathe due to gunk in your lungs is an awful feeling.
On the other hand, nobody sat by my bed worrying and soothing my fevered brow with lavender water either. Not that the nurses weren’t nice, but sometimes it’s the human contact that really heals people, I think.
I don’t remember the author or the book, alas, and I hope it wasn’t by anybody here, but I do remember that the hero, a soldier, had been shot or stabbed in the lung and wasn’t expected to survive. As part of his treatment the heroine pounded him on the back while he laid face down over the edge of his bed so that he would cough up the blood and gunk in his lungs.
I had lung surgery once and had a drain instead, and though it hurt like hell (even with morphine) when they pulled the little tube out, I was very glad for modern medicine! Not being able to breathe due to gunk in your lungs is an awful feeling.
On the other hand, nobody sat by my bed worrying and soothing my fevered brow with lavender water either. Not that the nurses weren’t nice, but sometimes it’s the human contact that really heals people, I think.
I don’t remember the author or the book, alas, and I hope it wasn’t by anybody here, but I do remember that the hero, a soldier, had been shot or stabbed in the lung and wasn’t expected to survive. As part of his treatment the heroine pounded him on the back while he laid face down over the edge of his bed so that he would cough up the blood and gunk in his lungs.
I had lung surgery once and had a drain instead, and though it hurt like hell (even with morphine) when they pulled the little tube out, I was very glad for modern medicine! Not being able to breathe due to gunk in your lungs is an awful feeling.
On the other hand, nobody sat by my bed worrying and soothing my fevered brow with lavender water either. Not that the nurses weren’t nice, but sometimes it’s the human contact that really heals people, I think.
I don’t remember the author or the book, alas, and I hope it wasn’t by anybody here, but I do remember that the hero, a soldier, had been shot or stabbed in the lung and wasn’t expected to survive. As part of his treatment the heroine pounded him on the back while he laid face down over the edge of his bed so that he would cough up the blood and gunk in his lungs.
I had lung surgery once and had a drain instead, and though it hurt like hell (even with morphine) when they pulled the little tube out, I was very glad for modern medicine! Not being able to breathe due to gunk in your lungs is an awful feeling.
On the other hand, nobody sat by my bed worrying and soothing my fevered brow with lavender water either. Not that the nurses weren’t nice, but sometimes it’s the human contact that really heals people, I think.
I don’t remember the author or the book, alas, and I hope it wasn’t by anybody here, but I do remember that the hero, a soldier, had been shot or stabbed in the lung and wasn’t expected to survive. As part of his treatment the heroine pounded him on the back while he laid face down over the edge of his bed so that he would cough up the blood and gunk in his lungs.
I had lung surgery once and had a drain instead, and though it hurt like hell (even with morphine) when they pulled the little tube out, I was very glad for modern medicine! Not being able to breathe due to gunk in your lungs is an awful feeling.
On the other hand, nobody sat by my bed worrying and soothing my fevered brow with lavender water either. Not that the nurses weren’t nice, but sometimes it’s the human contact that really heals people, I think.
I’ve read quite a few books with bleeding, cupping, leeches and amputation and it all sounds brutal but I think the most memorable scene for me is in the movie Master and Commander when the Doctor operates on himself and the amputation scene was harrowing too.
I’ve read quite a few books with bleeding, cupping, leeches and amputation and it all sounds brutal but I think the most memorable scene for me is in the movie Master and Commander when the Doctor operates on himself and the amputation scene was harrowing too.
I’ve read quite a few books with bleeding, cupping, leeches and amputation and it all sounds brutal but I think the most memorable scene for me is in the movie Master and Commander when the Doctor operates on himself and the amputation scene was harrowing too.
I’ve read quite a few books with bleeding, cupping, leeches and amputation and it all sounds brutal but I think the most memorable scene for me is in the movie Master and Commander when the Doctor operates on himself and the amputation scene was harrowing too.
I’ve read quite a few books with bleeding, cupping, leeches and amputation and it all sounds brutal but I think the most memorable scene for me is in the movie Master and Commander when the Doctor operates on himself and the amputation scene was harrowing too.
It’s interesting how some practices that fell out of favor come back into practice such as leeches and maggots, although they aren’t used too often. Of your books, Jo, st brides return from Canada with the heroine is pretty memorable. One of the saddest deaths was in Lisa kleypas’ ” when they were wicked”, in which she killed off the heroines first husband with a sudden headache…probable subarachnoid bleed…which under the right circumstances is still just as deadly.
It’s interesting how some practices that fell out of favor come back into practice such as leeches and maggots, although they aren’t used too often. Of your books, Jo, st brides return from Canada with the heroine is pretty memorable. One of the saddest deaths was in Lisa kleypas’ ” when they were wicked”, in which she killed off the heroines first husband with a sudden headache…probable subarachnoid bleed…which under the right circumstances is still just as deadly.
It’s interesting how some practices that fell out of favor come back into practice such as leeches and maggots, although they aren’t used too often. Of your books, Jo, st brides return from Canada with the heroine is pretty memorable. One of the saddest deaths was in Lisa kleypas’ ” when they were wicked”, in which she killed off the heroines first husband with a sudden headache…probable subarachnoid bleed…which under the right circumstances is still just as deadly.
It’s interesting how some practices that fell out of favor come back into practice such as leeches and maggots, although they aren’t used too often. Of your books, Jo, st brides return from Canada with the heroine is pretty memorable. One of the saddest deaths was in Lisa kleypas’ ” when they were wicked”, in which she killed off the heroines first husband with a sudden headache…probable subarachnoid bleed…which under the right circumstances is still just as deadly.
It’s interesting how some practices that fell out of favor come back into practice such as leeches and maggots, although they aren’t used too often. Of your books, Jo, st brides return from Canada with the heroine is pretty memorable. One of the saddest deaths was in Lisa kleypas’ ” when they were wicked”, in which she killed off the heroines first husband with a sudden headache…probable subarachnoid bleed…which under the right circumstances is still just as deadly.
My most memorable memory has already been mentioned – Shattered Rainbows. I was like – how did they think of that? –or– was it an anachronism? It did bring me out of the story for just that reason. However, I did not stay out long! LOL
My most memorable memory has already been mentioned – Shattered Rainbows. I was like – how did they think of that? –or– was it an anachronism? It did bring me out of the story for just that reason. However, I did not stay out long! LOL
My most memorable memory has already been mentioned – Shattered Rainbows. I was like – how did they think of that? –or– was it an anachronism? It did bring me out of the story for just that reason. However, I did not stay out long! LOL
My most memorable memory has already been mentioned – Shattered Rainbows. I was like – how did they think of that? –or– was it an anachronism? It did bring me out of the story for just that reason. However, I did not stay out long! LOL
My most memorable memory has already been mentioned – Shattered Rainbows. I was like – how did they think of that? –or– was it an anachronism? It did bring me out of the story for just that reason. However, I did not stay out long! LOL
Jo here.
Yes, Mary, that was in The Rogue’s Return. My research into the use of maggots was very interesting, and of course they are still used as you said.
Jo
Jo here.
Yes, Mary, that was in The Rogue’s Return. My research into the use of maggots was very interesting, and of course they are still used as you said.
Jo
Jo here.
Yes, Mary, that was in The Rogue’s Return. My research into the use of maggots was very interesting, and of course they are still used as you said.
Jo
Jo here.
Yes, Mary, that was in The Rogue’s Return. My research into the use of maggots was very interesting, and of course they are still used as you said.
Jo
Jo here.
Yes, Mary, that was in The Rogue’s Return. My research into the use of maggots was very interesting, and of course they are still used as you said.
Jo
I am glad that historicals don’t get into great detail of the medical treatments since I don’t think I really want to imagine those scenes. I remember a scene from Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas where the hero had a severe infection and the heroine and friends treated it.
I am glad that historicals don’t get into great detail of the medical treatments since I don’t think I really want to imagine those scenes. I remember a scene from Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas where the hero had a severe infection and the heroine and friends treated it.
I am glad that historicals don’t get into great detail of the medical treatments since I don’t think I really want to imagine those scenes. I remember a scene from Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas where the hero had a severe infection and the heroine and friends treated it.
I am glad that historicals don’t get into great detail of the medical treatments since I don’t think I really want to imagine those scenes. I remember a scene from Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas where the hero had a severe infection and the heroine and friends treated it.
I am glad that historicals don’t get into great detail of the medical treatments since I don’t think I really want to imagine those scenes. I remember a scene from Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas where the hero had a severe infection and the heroine and friends treated it.
Probably Diana Gabaldon’s many medical descriptions with the three pages of a thumb amputation or when she’s trying to inject home-grown penicillin into Jamie’s leg after he’s been bitten by a rattlesnake. Since she has no needles, she uses the fang from the snake as a needle of sorts.
YIKES!
And yes, they do still use leeches and maggots. Leeches are used often for limb reattachments to keep the blood flowing, among other uses. I find it all fascinating that everything old…as the saying goes. ;o)
Probably Diana Gabaldon’s many medical descriptions with the three pages of a thumb amputation or when she’s trying to inject home-grown penicillin into Jamie’s leg after he’s been bitten by a rattlesnake. Since she has no needles, she uses the fang from the snake as a needle of sorts.
YIKES!
And yes, they do still use leeches and maggots. Leeches are used often for limb reattachments to keep the blood flowing, among other uses. I find it all fascinating that everything old…as the saying goes. ;o)
Probably Diana Gabaldon’s many medical descriptions with the three pages of a thumb amputation or when she’s trying to inject home-grown penicillin into Jamie’s leg after he’s been bitten by a rattlesnake. Since she has no needles, she uses the fang from the snake as a needle of sorts.
YIKES!
And yes, they do still use leeches and maggots. Leeches are used often for limb reattachments to keep the blood flowing, among other uses. I find it all fascinating that everything old…as the saying goes. ;o)
Probably Diana Gabaldon’s many medical descriptions with the three pages of a thumb amputation or when she’s trying to inject home-grown penicillin into Jamie’s leg after he’s been bitten by a rattlesnake. Since she has no needles, she uses the fang from the snake as a needle of sorts.
YIKES!
And yes, they do still use leeches and maggots. Leeches are used often for limb reattachments to keep the blood flowing, among other uses. I find it all fascinating that everything old…as the saying goes. ;o)
Probably Diana Gabaldon’s many medical descriptions with the three pages of a thumb amputation or when she’s trying to inject home-grown penicillin into Jamie’s leg after he’s been bitten by a rattlesnake. Since she has no needles, she uses the fang from the snake as a needle of sorts.
YIKES!
And yes, they do still use leeches and maggots. Leeches are used often for limb reattachments to keep the blood flowing, among other uses. I find it all fascinating that everything old…as the saying goes. ;o)
Dragonfly in Amber was a very vivid historical with medical issues involved. Interesting and well described.
Dragonfly in Amber was a very vivid historical with medical issues involved. Interesting and well described.
Dragonfly in Amber was a very vivid historical with medical issues involved. Interesting and well described.
Dragonfly in Amber was a very vivid historical with medical issues involved. Interesting and well described.
Dragonfly in Amber was a very vivid historical with medical issues involved. Interesting and well described.
I was most impressed by the blood transfusion scene in Shattered Rainbows. It was remarkable. Most moving. Thank you for all of your books’ adventures.
I was most impressed by the blood transfusion scene in Shattered Rainbows. It was remarkable. Most moving. Thank you for all of your books’ adventures.
I was most impressed by the blood transfusion scene in Shattered Rainbows. It was remarkable. Most moving. Thank you for all of your books’ adventures.
I was most impressed by the blood transfusion scene in Shattered Rainbows. It was remarkable. Most moving. Thank you for all of your books’ adventures.
I was most impressed by the blood transfusion scene in Shattered Rainbows. It was remarkable. Most moving. Thank you for all of your books’ adventures.
I just this week read a rather harrowing scene featuring a post-mortem C-section on a moving train (in 1877). It was in Honorary Word Wench Carla Kelly’s most recent historical for Harlequin (“Coming Home for Christmas,”) which contains three novellas–two feature doctor heroes and the other a nurse heroine. Carla seems to specialize in doctors (and sea captains, but that’s another topic)–“Surgeon’s Lady,” “Wedding Journey,” and “Libby’s London Merchant” also feature doctor heroes, and are wonderfully, romantically memorable.
I just this week read a rather harrowing scene featuring a post-mortem C-section on a moving train (in 1877). It was in Honorary Word Wench Carla Kelly’s most recent historical for Harlequin (“Coming Home for Christmas,”) which contains three novellas–two feature doctor heroes and the other a nurse heroine. Carla seems to specialize in doctors (and sea captains, but that’s another topic)–“Surgeon’s Lady,” “Wedding Journey,” and “Libby’s London Merchant” also feature doctor heroes, and are wonderfully, romantically memorable.
I just this week read a rather harrowing scene featuring a post-mortem C-section on a moving train (in 1877). It was in Honorary Word Wench Carla Kelly’s most recent historical for Harlequin (“Coming Home for Christmas,”) which contains three novellas–two feature doctor heroes and the other a nurse heroine. Carla seems to specialize in doctors (and sea captains, but that’s another topic)–“Surgeon’s Lady,” “Wedding Journey,” and “Libby’s London Merchant” also feature doctor heroes, and are wonderfully, romantically memorable.
I just this week read a rather harrowing scene featuring a post-mortem C-section on a moving train (in 1877). It was in Honorary Word Wench Carla Kelly’s most recent historical for Harlequin (“Coming Home for Christmas,”) which contains three novellas–two feature doctor heroes and the other a nurse heroine. Carla seems to specialize in doctors (and sea captains, but that’s another topic)–“Surgeon’s Lady,” “Wedding Journey,” and “Libby’s London Merchant” also feature doctor heroes, and are wonderfully, romantically memorable.
I just this week read a rather harrowing scene featuring a post-mortem C-section on a moving train (in 1877). It was in Honorary Word Wench Carla Kelly’s most recent historical for Harlequin (“Coming Home for Christmas,”) which contains three novellas–two feature doctor heroes and the other a nurse heroine. Carla seems to specialize in doctors (and sea captains, but that’s another topic)–“Surgeon’s Lady,” “Wedding Journey,” and “Libby’s London Merchant” also feature doctor heroes, and are wonderfully, romantically memorable.
Sorry to hear you’ve been sick, Jo. Not fun.
I enjoyed the scene in Georgette Heyer’s Devil’s Cub, where the hero, having been shot by the heroine, is to be bled, and the heroine, being English and therefore having phlegm( according to the French doctor) is to hold the basin.
Sorry to hear you’ve been sick, Jo. Not fun.
I enjoyed the scene in Georgette Heyer’s Devil’s Cub, where the hero, having been shot by the heroine, is to be bled, and the heroine, being English and therefore having phlegm( according to the French doctor) is to hold the basin.
Sorry to hear you’ve been sick, Jo. Not fun.
I enjoyed the scene in Georgette Heyer’s Devil’s Cub, where the hero, having been shot by the heroine, is to be bled, and the heroine, being English and therefore having phlegm( according to the French doctor) is to hold the basin.
Sorry to hear you’ve been sick, Jo. Not fun.
I enjoyed the scene in Georgette Heyer’s Devil’s Cub, where the hero, having been shot by the heroine, is to be bled, and the heroine, being English and therefore having phlegm( according to the French doctor) is to hold the basin.
Sorry to hear you’ve been sick, Jo. Not fun.
I enjoyed the scene in Georgette Heyer’s Devil’s Cub, where the hero, having been shot by the heroine, is to be bled, and the heroine, being English and therefore having phlegm( according to the French doctor) is to hold the basin.
Leeches is the one thing that sticks to me. How they always used leaches to bleed and cure people. I have read this often. Doesn’t sound like much of a cure to me.
Leeches is the one thing that sticks to me. How they always used leaches to bleed and cure people. I have read this often. Doesn’t sound like much of a cure to me.
Leeches is the one thing that sticks to me. How they always used leaches to bleed and cure people. I have read this often. Doesn’t sound like much of a cure to me.
Leeches is the one thing that sticks to me. How they always used leaches to bleed and cure people. I have read this often. Doesn’t sound like much of a cure to me.
Leeches is the one thing that sticks to me. How they always used leaches to bleed and cure people. I have read this often. Doesn’t sound like much of a cure to me.
Hi Jo,
i hope you’d well now 😉
the medical scene i remember is from julia quinn – when he was wicked, when michael experienced dengue fever.
Hi Jo,
i hope you’d well now 😉
the medical scene i remember is from julia quinn – when he was wicked, when michael experienced dengue fever.
Hi Jo,
i hope you’d well now 😉
the medical scene i remember is from julia quinn – when he was wicked, when michael experienced dengue fever.
Hi Jo,
i hope you’d well now 😉
the medical scene i remember is from julia quinn – when he was wicked, when michael experienced dengue fever.
Hi Jo,
i hope you’d well now 😉
the medical scene i remember is from julia quinn – when he was wicked, when michael experienced dengue fever.
The leeches secrete an anti-coagulant that thins the blood and prevents clotting. I also remember the very first Sharpe novel (Bernard Cornwell) I ever read where the soldiers used maggots to remove infected tissue from wounds. It prevented gangrene which led to amputation. Sometimes I think it is miraculous that any of our forebears survived medical treatment. Sometimes I still think it is remarkable…..
The leeches secrete an anti-coagulant that thins the blood and prevents clotting. I also remember the very first Sharpe novel (Bernard Cornwell) I ever read where the soldiers used maggots to remove infected tissue from wounds. It prevented gangrene which led to amputation. Sometimes I think it is miraculous that any of our forebears survived medical treatment. Sometimes I still think it is remarkable…..
The leeches secrete an anti-coagulant that thins the blood and prevents clotting. I also remember the very first Sharpe novel (Bernard Cornwell) I ever read where the soldiers used maggots to remove infected tissue from wounds. It prevented gangrene which led to amputation. Sometimes I think it is miraculous that any of our forebears survived medical treatment. Sometimes I still think it is remarkable…..
The leeches secrete an anti-coagulant that thins the blood and prevents clotting. I also remember the very first Sharpe novel (Bernard Cornwell) I ever read where the soldiers used maggots to remove infected tissue from wounds. It prevented gangrene which led to amputation. Sometimes I think it is miraculous that any of our forebears survived medical treatment. Sometimes I still think it is remarkable…..
The leeches secrete an anti-coagulant that thins the blood and prevents clotting. I also remember the very first Sharpe novel (Bernard Cornwell) I ever read where the soldiers used maggots to remove infected tissue from wounds. It prevented gangrene which led to amputation. Sometimes I think it is miraculous that any of our forebears survived medical treatment. Sometimes I still think it is remarkable…..