Eratosthenes of Cyrene

Originally posted by stereologist
Think of the late 1700s here in the US. A doctor was not a looked up to position. Most doctors were on the order of today's electricians and plumbers. Not disputing skill here, just that society did not view it as a proper profession.

That could be because they were as likely to kill you as heal you.

In fact, something along similar lines is true today - with one of the biggest causes of death in the US being medical mistakes (third highest killer, IIRC.)

And this in an age when doctors (mostly) actually know what they are doing - which was certainly not the case in the 1700's.

Harte

reply to post by Harte


Thanks for the insight. I see it now. I recall that some of the cures were taking poisons. The doctor attempted to kill the disease without killing the patient.