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Breathing a Vein, published by Hannah Humphrey, 1804 (coloured engraving)
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Breathing a Vein, published by Hannah Humphrey, 1804 (coloured engraving)
NCO260481 Breathing a Vein, published by Hannah Humphrey, 1804 (coloured engraving) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Courtesy of the Warden and Scholars of New College, Oxford; English, out of copyright
Media ID 22656554
© Bridgeman Images
Bleeding Blood Letting Humours Patient Purging Spurting Surgery Treatment Cathartic
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This coloured engraving, titled "Breathing a Vein" published by Hannah Humphrey in 1804, transports us back to the Georgian era and offers a glimpse into medical practices of the time. Created by James Gillray, a renowned caricaturist of his day, this artwork showcases the somewhat gruesome but widely accepted practice of bloodletting. In this scene, we witness a doctor performing the procedure on a patient. The room is filled with tension as both figures are depicted with exaggerated expressions and gestures. The patient appears apprehensive yet resigned to their fate, while the doctor's intense focus suggests his confidence in this age-old method of treatment. Bloodletting was believed to balance bodily humours and restore health by removing excess or impure blood from the body. This engraving vividly captures the moment when blood spurts out from an incision made on the patient's arm – an unsettling sight for modern viewers but one that would have been familiar during that period. Gillray's cartoonish style adds an element of humor to what might otherwise be considered a distressing subject matter. Through satire and exaggeration, he highlights both the absurdity and seriousness surrounding medical practices at that time. "Breathing a Vein" serves as not only an intriguing historical artifact but also prompts reflection on how far medical science has advanced since then. It reminds us to appreciate our current understanding of healthcare while acknowledging past beliefs and practices that shaped it.
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