Just as people used to know no better than to undergo bleeding, no matter in what way they were sick. Histories and biographies tell us it was the loss of blood from this barbarous bleeding which led to George Washington's death.
But nowadays we never hear of bleeding.
Just as fever patients are no longer denied ice water and ice applications. Though, not so many years ago, people were literally allowed to burn up with fever.
Thousands Have Died Under The Surgeon's Knife
Operation for rupture, for reasons stated below has never been much more than a life-or-death chance, even for those with a rugged constitution. Thousands of ruptured people have died under the surgeon's knife.
Oftentimes a weak heart—because of the ether—makes it unsafe even to attempt operation.
And it has always been a big expense which not one in a hundred could afford. Even though it had no dangers, the cost and the long lay-off from work or business make it useless for the majority of sufferers to think of an operation.
The reasons operation is so risky for most people are these:
The sufferer is seldom in condition for an operation, is run down, the vitality is low—that is why the muscles over the intestines have weakened and spread.
Another grave danger lies in the fact that a very large opening must be made—many delicate tissues cut through—before the surgeon can reach the weakened muscles which caused the rupture.