Dreadful Medicine
Thursday afternoons between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m., June through September
WEATHER PERMITTING
Fort Phoenix, south end of Fort St., Fairhaven, MA
Display and discussion near fort flagpole and cannons
Visit with Ezekiel Hale Boggs, a barber-dentist-surgeon from Oxford Village in the 1770s, to learn about tooth pulling, amputation, blood letting, and other scary medical practices in the days before anesthesia and clean tools were the norm. During the American Revolution the the village barber-surgeon often provided medical aid on the battlefield.
On many afternoons Mr. Boggs will be joined by a young barber apprentice or other Oxford villagers. Find out where the expression “bite the bullet” comes from or what might be prescribed to cure the “bloody flux.” No people will be harmed (we hope) during these entertaining and informative demonstrations.
VOLUNTEERS WANTED
We could use a young apprentice of the village barber-dentist-surgeon, dressed in period attire, to help talk about tooth pulling, amputation, blood letting, and other scary medical practices in the days before anesthesia and clean tools were the norm.
While volunteers should be comfortable talking to the public and willing to dress the part, no prior experience is needed, though backgrounds in theater, teaching, historical reenacting, etc. can be helpful. The Office of Tourism with provide historical information and will help with costuming. If interested or to get more information, use contacts methods listed below.
Sponsored by the Fairhaven Office of Tourism. Weather permitting. Free. For more info, call 508-979-4085 or email FairhavenTours@fairhaven-ma.gov.
Other tours are shown here: TOURS
