Buttock clenching commence
Buttock clenching commence!
Hippocrates’ procedure to treat hemorrhoids states that “seven or eight” iron surgical tools with a coin sized piece on the end should be “prepared” – this means heated in the fire until red hot. Then the poor patient should be held or tied down, their arms restrained while the hemorrhoids are literally burned to kingdom come, until “no part is left’. The description specifically encouraged the patient not to be gagged and allowed to scream (which I am sure they did) because yelling will “push the anus out” and make it easier to access and burn off more hemorrhoids!
When the piles were sufficiently burned off a soothing paste was applied, made from lentils and chickpeas. A few days later this paste would be replaced with honey soaked bandages inserted into the patient’s anus – I have never been so glad to have been born in the age of modern medicine!
Image is a 13th century depiction of hemorrhoid surgery. Via: The British Library (Public Domain)
Sourced from an article by Brendan Beatty for Ancient Origins.
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