Barber Surgeons: Leeches, lancets and blood-letting

Interview with Rory McCreadie

by Elaine Towell, Communications Assistant, RCSEng

The working life of a barber surgeon, practicing between 400 - 500 years ago, will be demonstrated this summer at the Hunterian Museum, at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

With a collection of over 7,000 artefacts and tools, and helped by his surgeon's mate, Jane Powell, Rory McCreadie will take you step-by-step through some of the most commonly performed operations of the barber surgeon era, when hygiene was poor and anaesthetic was unheard of.

Mr Mcreadie will explain how amputations were carried out, why blood-letting was the common cure-all and why holes were drilled in skulls in ancient practice - a procedure known as 'trephining'.

Mr McCreadie says that the demonstration will be fun, and that the faint-hearted need not worry.

"There will be no blood and gore or arms being thrown around the place. I don't want to scare any children. If I can make people laugh then I can teach them.

"We will explain how patients were prepared, demonstrate operation techniques and discuss chances of recovery. The risks patients faced will be discussed, as will the difficult choices both surgeon and patient sometimes had to make. We will also talk about how patients were sedated - or not! Visitors will have a chance to see commonly used instruments and to ask questions."

When it comes to tools of the trade, Mr McCreadie says that there is one instrument which is a clear favourite with the audience.

"I have a brass toothpick with little ear scoops on the end for cleaning out ear wax. We talk about removing bullets and drilling holes in heads, and we demonstrate a bone saw, but the biggest reaction from the audience is the ear scoop, every time!"

Mr Mcreadie will also introduce Hirudo medicinalis, otherwise known as 'Nosey the leech'.

Historically, leeches were widely used to remove blood from patients in a bid to cure every disease imaginable.

"Nosey is an important educational part of the demonstration, as leeches were a mainstay of medical care for thousands of years. Removing large amounts of blood was considered a cure for most ailments until the late 19th century, and leeches were just one of the many methods."

Despite Nosey's role in the demonstrations, Mr McCreadie promises there is no danger of the leech feeding on members of the audience, as he'll be kept safely in his container.

While leeches may well have been part of treatments in the past, Mr Mcreadie wants to ensure such techniques and cures from medical history are remembered, and says the demonstration offers an opportunity to experience the world of the barber surgeon in an informative and entertaining way.

"Modern medicine is very young. We've had grandparents in the audience who have used techniques or remedies in their lifetimes which were prominent in the 16th and 17th centuries. The history of medicine is fascinating, and it's important for children's education that this knowledge is shared in an easy to understand way, rather than be forgotten.

"I love re-enacting the techniques and explaining why people thought in the way they did. I don't want people to think museums are stuffy. It's not a lecture, it's fun, and hopefully people go home with a little more knowledge than when they came in."

Suitable for all ages. Tickets are free, but pre-booking is essential as places are limited to 30 people per session.

To book please call 020 7869 6560.

Alternatively email museums@rcseng.ac.uk