George Washington fell ill after riding in bad weather. His doctors used harsh treatments like heavy bloodletting that likely sped up his death. This famous case shows how past medicine could harm more than help.
On a cold December day in 1799, George Washington returned home to Mount Vernon after hours on horseback in snow and rain. He soon developed a sore throat and trouble breathing. Doctors arrived quickly to treat the former president.
They performed aggressive procedures including multiple bloodlettings to remove large amounts of blood from his body. They also gave him medicines to induce vomiting and applied blisters to his skin. These steps were common at the time but weakened him greatly.
Washington died later that evening. Many historians now believe the treatments caused more damage than his original illness. His case remains a key example of how medical practices from the past often did more harm than good.
Original Author: Joseph Varon | Source: Brownstone Institute
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