Barber-Surgeon

In the Middle Ages, hairdressers (barbers) also made money by doing basic medical jobs. For example, they were expert urine testers. Sick patients would wee into a bottle, then the barber-surgeon would sniff and even taste it before giving his diagnosis. The barber-surgeons also used their razors and scissors for medical procedures. One common job was amputation. The barber-surgeon would roll skin back from the shattered limb. He then used a special curved knife which he used to cut all of the flesh and muscle quickly from around the bone. He would then saw through the bone, roll the skin back over it and sew it all up. This was disgusting but also dangerous: there was no anaesthetic in those days so the patient would be screaming and writhing violently in agony. Even today, the symbol of a barber is a red and white pole – representing blood and bandages!