TIMELINE OF HISTORY OF PHLEBOTOMY

Content:

 Intro to Bloodletting
 3700 BCE
 1500 B.C
 5th century B.C
 709 C.E
 Medieval to Middle Ages 500-1500 AD
 15th-16th Century
 Continuing through the Middle Ages
 17th Century
 18th Century
 19th Century
 End of 19th century into the 20th century
 Present

Bloodletting

 A very popular medical practice spanning over 2,000 years from ancient times to the
late 19th century.
 Blood was riddled with mystery. With people believing in astrology, life forces,
impurities, and spirits, letting blood out from the body was thought to release the
bad and achieve balance.
 There are some modern applications still used today.

3700 BCE
Bloodletting dates as far back as to
the ancient civilization of
Mesopotamia.
1550 BC
Evidence of bloodletting in Ancient Egypt
can be found in the Ebers Papyrus, one of
their ancient medical texts.

5th Century B.C.

 By this time of Hippocrates, the art of

bloodletting had already been
flourishing as a serious procedure
with the Greeks and Romans.
 From here it quickly spread to other
civilizations from Arabians, Asians,
and Europeans.
709 CE

 As blood was such an important part of

the way of life to the Mayans, it wasn't
only restricted to the civilians.
 "Carved lintel from Yaxchilan showing the
ruler of that city, Itzamnaaj Bahlam II
holding a blazing torch while his wife,
Lady Xok, drawing a rope studded with
cactus thorns throw a piercing in her
tongue to draw blood. An open book lies
before her." October 28, 709 CE
 The Mayan priests and rulers used stone
implements to pierce tongues, lips,
genitals and other soft body parts,
offering their blood in sacrifice to their
gods.
 Blood loss also allowed individuals to
enter trance-like states in which they
reportedly experienced visions of deities
or their ancestors.

Medieval to Middle Ages

500-1500 AD

"Bloodletting Man" 15th

century
 Up to the end of the
15th century,
bloodletting was still
based on the treatments
of the humors.
"Bloodletting Man"
Hans von Gersdorff. Feldtbü ch der
Wundartzney. (Strassburg: H.
Schotten, 1528).
One of Hans's woodcut prints.
Hans von Gersdorff was a German
surgeon around 1517.

15th-16th Century
 Bloodletting was used extensively during The Great Plague (Black Death--
throughout the Middle Ages) to cure those affected. The blood drained from the
afflicted was described as "foul-smelling, blackish, and was often accompanied by
greenish pus."
Continuing through the Middle Ages

 Barber-surgeons were popular for not only hair maintenance but also for
bloodletting and other medical and dentistry practices. This continued throughout
the 18th century.

17th century

 Late 16th century and throughout the 17th century, the invention of microscope
began to change the way people looked at disease.

 However, finding cures were still puzzling to physicians; therefore, they believed it
better to continue letting blood than do nothing at all.

18th century

 Barber-surgeons were still

practicing.
 Better instrumentation:
spring-loaded lancets and
the scarificator, a device
featuring multiple blades
that delivered a uniform set
of parallel cuts.
 Marie Antoinette 1778
 George Washington 1799

Embossed leather case is inscribed

“Traŭ nichtesbeißt” which translated
literally from German reads “Do not
trust it bites”.
19th century

 Leeches
 Advancement of knowledge in human anatomy and physiology, looking at
physiological chemistry, and cellular physiology were increasing diagnostics and
surgery.
 Evidence-based medicine led to the discredited and rapid decline of the practice of
bloodletting as it was deemed ineffective in the late 19th century.

End of 19th century into the 20th century

 Louis Pasteur-proved that microorganisms cause disease

 Joseph Lister-proved that use disinfectants and antiseptics prevent infections
 Sir Alexander Fleming-discovered penicillin in 1932

"Louis Pasteur (1822–1895) and Robert Koch (1843–1910) proved conclusively that
inflammation resulted from infection and thus was not susceptible to bloodletting. They
offered a scientifically legitimate way of thinking about the cause and treatment of the
patient’s illness (Kerridge & Lowe, 1995)."

Present: (P.S padagdag na lang po hehe)