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Article: We've come a long way since bloodletting.(Neighbor)
- Article from:
- Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)
- Article date:
- February 11, 2000
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 Paddock Publications. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Two-hundred years ago this coming December, George Washington was murdered.
The assassin? Medical ignorance.
On a nasty winter's day in Virginia, the father of our country, now happily retired to Mount Vernon, rode out to inspect his estate.
In early afternoon he came home with his coat soaked through and snow on his white hair. Toward evening he complained of a sore throat. In the middle of the night he woke Martha to say that his throat was extremely painful and he was feverish.
When the maid came in the morning with wood for the fire, he sent her for Rawlins, the overseer who medically treated the slaves. Upon Rawlins' arrival ...