The Comforts of Bath, Thomas Rowlandson.
Almost everyone who visits my blog, Twitter account, and Facebook page knows I’ve broken my foot in two inconvenient places. Even with modern medical advances the most pleasant way to describe my experience is that it’s been a … pain. Literally and figuratively. This lover of walking 3-4 times a day with her dog has been sidelined. I’ve been sitting or lying down for a month, watching my bum grow two sizes. I’m a bit more mobile now and can hobble wearing an unwieldy boot.
How did people deal with this situation two-hundred years ago? I wondered as I stared at the ceiling with my foot propped up higher than my head. It certainly could not have been easy. Mrs. Mapp, or Crazy Sally, as she was known, was a famous London bone setter in the early 18th century. While she was unlucky in love, she made her fortune with her strength, boldness, and wonder-working cures.
Besides driving a profitable trade at home, she used to drive to town once a week in a coach and four and return again bearing away the crutches of her patients as trophies of honour. – Mrs. Mapp: The Bone-Setter, Book of Days, Robert Chamber, 1864
I doubt Mrs. Mapp would have bothered setting my foot. There was really nothing to manipulate. All it needed was rest and a good calcium-rich diet. How did people get round and about when they were hobbled in days of yore?
In my estimation, crutches resembled torture instruments more than helpmeets.
Beggar with one leg and a crutch. Image @Risky Regencies
This 1850 crutch is similar to the one depicted in the image above. It was not adjustable, and rags were wound around the top to make the crutch less painful. Even with ample padding on the modern crutch, my underarms became sore. I can only imagine how much discomfort the old models offered.
Wheelchair, Barry Lyndon
Wheelchairs were invented early in the history of mankind. In 530 B.C. a wheeled child’s bed made an appearance on a Greek vase, and in 525 A.D. a wheelchair was depicted on a Chinese print. By the 17th century, the patient’s comfort began to be taken into account.
Paralytic woman in wheelchair, 1821. Image @Museum of London
During the 18th century the Bath chair was born. Invented by John Dawson, the three-wheeled chairs remained popular all through the 19th century.
3-wheeled Bath chair. Image @BBC
- Setting a Broken Bone: 19th Century Medical Treatment Was Not for Sissies
- Sedan Chairs: An Efficient Mode of Transportation in Georgian London and Bath
- BBC: History of the World. Bath Chair
- Reassessing What We Collect: Paralytic woman
This Rowlandson caricature depicts the ill visiting the Pump Room to take the waters. Note the sedan chair at left being carried inside the room, the man in the wheelchair, and the man walking with two canes.
Jane Austen's World 
Hi Vic,
Hope those bones are mending now.
The three wheeled Bath Chair is very interesting. I was in Bath recently. The people pushing them about had hills to contend with. Once they had got their passenger up Milsom Street along George Street and then up the even steeper Gay Street to The Circus and The Royal Crescent they then had to get them down the hill again. Hope they had good breaks or maybe they just stuck their heels in. Imagine a cold day in winter with ice on the ground. Bath must have been a great laugh in those days!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tony
Tony, that’s why I think Rowlandson’s cartoon is such a hoot. I imagine the sedan chair carriers had quite a struggle maintaining their passengers on an even keel.
The bones are on the mend, but I still have a long way to go. I miss walking most, especially when it is so pretty outside this time of year.
I still can’t believe you broke your foot; how much longer until you can participate in country dances again? However, you’ve made a bit of lemonade and created a great post from your infirmities (although I’d rather you had no cause to be inspired for this topic!)
Just think, some of the most fabulous ladies of the Georgian age were confined to wheelchairs (or muscle-y servants carrying them around). Mary Perdita Robinson and Lady Harriet Bessborough were both confined, so you are in good company!
Thank you, Heather. It seems I am in good company! The worst part about the situation is that I am to drink no wine until the bones heal. Aargh!
I am impressed with your discomfort that you are still able to write. but perhaps it helps distract. glad you are healing. hope you have someone available to walk your dog. perhaps a wheel chair with him pulling? locally we have an agency that offers free use of medical equipment for 3 months. they even have the things that extend your reach. hopefully they have something similar in your area.
Thank you, Janice. I have such a wonderful support system. A neighbor walks my tiny terrier in the morning four times per week. Friends come over and walk him at odd times. I enlarged the back yard fence for the days when no one can walk him. As for grocery shopping, those electric carts are amazing. And crutches help if I must negotiate long distances. Sitting and blogging is hard, which is why my blogs have been relatively quiet lately.
No wine??!! How perfectly uncivil. I’ve never heard of such a medieval, archaic form of torture. Are you quite sure? I’d ask for a second opinion. ;)
Of course, the only broken bones I’ve been unfortunate enough to meet were my children’s, and they were given no such directions!
Hang in there, Vic!
T’is a most archaic custom, nay barbarous, and an injunction which I shall take up with the medical profession once my appendage knits whole again!
This put me in mind of a visit to Williamsburg to one of the taverns. The host was crippled (I think the historic person he was representing was crippled, not the enactor himself). He was being carried up stairs by several young men, as he sat erect in a Colonial style armchair. When they deposited him on the floor, he stood, turned around to face the front of the chair and grasped it’s arms to use as a walker as he made his way between the tables to regale us with his stories. If he stayed in one place for very long, he sat in the chair -otherwise, he just leaned on the arms.
Julie
Being carried by a bevy of young men would be most preferential!
I do like the idea of muscle-y servants carrying you around. Throw in the wine though. Throw it ON the foot! See if it helps.
Mmmm! Perhaps I should have some cherubic children wave huge ostrich fans overhead as part of the cortege?
Oh, yes, now I think you’re on to something! We could market this – call it a Fanfare Carry-All!
Julie
I used a knee scooter, also known as a leg up caddy, for four months following foot surgery and it was a great improvement over crutches. You might be able to rent one if you are going to be off your foot for a while.
Shall look into it! I rather fancy getting around a knee scooter! What a hoot.
Big hugs to you Vic. Hope you recover sooner. And thanks for the post, you’ve just solved my problem. I was thinking of writing about a wheel chair in my Regency mystery. You have a photo here.
Chemical Fusion
Excellent, Enid. So glad I could be of help.
Vic:
After surgery, my husband was told that alcohol thins the blood, increases bruising and can slow healing. He was advised against any alcohol until he was no longer taking any pain meds. or antibiotic.
This is sent with best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery!
That makes so much sense, Barbara. Thank you for the explanation.
I hope your bones mend soon. I’m glad you were able to find an interesting topic for your blog because of it.
Thank you! Everyone’s good wishes is putting a smile on my face.
Back in 2002, I broke my tibia and fibula into many pieces (the x-ray looked like an island archipelago…)
The result was that I was on crutches for 3 months, and a boot for a month after. And there were surgeries to add metal pins, screws and plates to hold the various pieces together.
So, I totally, totally sympathize with your situation!
At the time, I wondered the same thing you are wondering — what would my medical treatment have been, even 100 years ago. I figured the docs at the time might have just cut the leg off!
I have a question — what is the purpose of the ‘no wine’ rule? Does it interfere with healing? Or is the doc just afraid you’ll be unsteady on your (one good) foot?
Hope you heal quickly!
I hear what you’re saying, Bart. I’m trying to avoid the pins and plates! I found this online source:
Avoid bone robbers
To maximize the rate of healing it is helpful to avoid bone robbers such as sugar, salt, alcohol, caffeine, red meats etc.
Because of the above stipulations, I have managed to lose 10 lbs. despite my inactivity!
Very interesting. I know that when I broke the leg, I had no interest at all in alcohol for the first 3 or 4 weeks…so maybe my body was telling me something!
My ancestor broke his leg in September 1751 and presumably followed the advice given by Dr Buchan in his Domestic Medicine ( he certainly owned a copy of the book).In it he was advised to have the limb wrapped in wet leather, made to lie on his side (for 6 weeks!) and have a diet of prunes (slightly at odds with the previous advice!). He would also have been bled with leeches….
My ancestor recovered but always walked with a limp. In his diaries he records buying a crutch cane for three shillings and sixpence. But nowhere, ever, was it suggested that he refrain from drinking wine!
What fascinating details, Mike. Thank you so much for sharing.
Awww, I hope you heal fast! I fractured my left foot two years ago and I remember the six weeks that followed as being acutely wretched. However, my brother who despises Jane Austen as a writer of ` love stories` actually went out and bought me a complete volume of Jane Austen`s works, the first I ever had. I was quite moved, if I may say so myself.
And ha, two weeks ago during a hike, I fell and sprained my ankle badly, so now I`ve been hobbling about on a cane and staring enviously at those walking about on two legs. So your post came at a good moment because I was wondering what they used to do in those romantic Regency times, and counting myself blessed to be alive during an era of X-rays and modern technology.
Hang in there! I know it gets incredibly boring ( not to mention difficult to bathe, dress, etc.), but every second your body is healing itself. :)
Sorry I missed this post due to a very busy school day. I’m sorry to hear about your foot and had noticed you hadn’t posted as much. Keep hanging in there. We love what you can share when you can!
Vic, I sure hope everything heals well and they weren’t stress fractures. Mayhap you could ask for some upper body exercises whilst your lower limb heals?
Be as comfortable as possible and my felicitations on the weight loss.