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Beau Brummel


 Posted by P. Bingham on February 24, 1998 at 00:32:53:


In response to bleeding, written by Miller on February 23, 1998 at 18:38:30


To L and T indexIf I recall correctly, Beau Brummel died by the leech, or rather, his illness was very much hastened by the leeches the doctor placed on his head on his death bed.  Or was this Lord Byron?  I'm confused, I think it was Lord Byron.  This was late in the Regency or shortly after, I can't remember.  And of course George III was leeched quite often.  It was a sort of automatic operation that they did without much thought and not very many people at this time would have protested.  It was thought that by removing the bad humors from the body, the bodies functions would improve. And so they used bled-letting for all kind of illnesses. If they didn't use a leech they might cut the skin and let the blood flow into a cup which was called cupping.  Sounds like Vampire stuff to me!  At Lord Byron's death bed (or was it Beau Brummell's) his friend stated in his memoirs that he was very upset and felt that the leeches were killing his friend so I suppose that at this time there were some people who questioned the practice.   
Patricia the forgetful
 





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