How did barber surgeons handle infections?
Frequently Asked Question about the extinct profession: Barber Surgeon
Barber surgeons in the Middle Ages managed infections through rudimentary methods. They used boiling water and alcohol to clean instruments, applied herbal remedies, and performed bloodletting to balance bodily humors. Surgical procedures were often risky, and antiseptic techniques were unknown. They relied on their experience and the body's natural healing, though many patients succumbed to infections.