MISCELLANEOUS MEDICAL SYMBOLS.
THE BARBER’S AND SURGEON’S POLE.—The peculiar pole made use of by barbers
as a sign seems to have been medical in origin. For a long time the
barber performed all the duties of the surgeon. It was in the year 1461
that, on petition, King Edward IV granted “the freemen of the Mystery of
Barbers of the city of London, using the mystery or faculty of surgery,”
“the mystery,” which constituted the beginning of the present Royal
College of Surgeons of England.[516] It was not, however, until the
middle of the eighteenth century (1745) that each began to limit his
functions.
The sign is generally explained thus: The pole represents a stick,
usually held in his hand by the patient while getting bled, and the
red and white spiral stripes, blood and a bandage, respectively. The
colors, it may be observed, are not always arranged in spiral parallel
stripes; nor are the colors limited to red and white. The use of blue
with, or even without, red is partly allowable, on account of venous
blood being somewhat bluish in hue. Mr. Jeaffreson, indeed, says that
“the chirurgical pole, properly tricked out, ought to have a line of blue
paint, another of red, and a third of white,”[517] spirally arranged.
On the top of the pole there is usually placed, in Great Britain, France,
and other European countries, a brass basin, with a semicircular gap in
one side. This vessel is used by the barber to keep the clothes of his
patrons from being soiled. With a gallipot, instead of the basin, one
has the real pole of the surgeon, which has been extensively used as a
sign. Without either, it is in use by the barbers in this country. Lord
Thurlow, a member of the House of Commons, delivered a speech on the 17th
of July, 1797, in opposition to the Surgeons’ Incorporation Bill, in
which he said: “By a statute, still in force, the barbers and surgeons
were each to use a pole. The barbers were to have theirs blue and white
striped, with no appendage; but the surgeons’, which was the same in
other respects, was likewise to have a gallipot and a red flag, to denote
the particular nature of their vocation.”
THE COLOR YELLOW.—It is a well-known fact that yellow is a
characteristically medical color. A flag of this color is in use at
lazarettos, and it is often placed at plague-stricken spots, as a warning
to the observer to keep away. How is the medical import of the color to
be accounted for? In Christian symbolism it signifies faith, but one
must turn, I believe, to astrology to learn the reason of its medical
significance. To the astrologer, yellow was the color of the sun; and
it was to this planet, anciently so regarded, that the possession of
greatest influence over disease was accorded.
THE PHYSICIAN’S CONVEYANCE.—It is said that Asclepiades, the ancient
quack, perambulated the world on a cow’s back, living on her milk as
he went along. We have no reason to believe that such a mode of moving
from point to point ever became a professional custom; but physicians in
recent times have always had, in most places, characteristic methods of
travel, in their rounds among their patients.
It appears that, previous to the reign of Charles II, it was customary
for the English doctors to visit on horseback, “sitting,” as Jeaffreson
says, “sideways on foot-cloths, like women.”[518] At any rate, Aubrey
says that Harvey “rode on horseback with a foot-cloth, his men following
on foot, as the fashion then was, which was very decent, now quite
discontinued.”[519] Later, carriages of various kinds, some very showy,
came into vogue.
For many years the physicians of Philadelphia, as of other prominent
American cities, have been known, as they have gone about their duties,
by their use of a special form of phaeton. It is a four-wheeled
conveyance, with a fixed top, and is drawn by one horse. Riding in it
is pleasant, and its generous top protects well in bad weather. Several
years ago a two-wheeled modification of it was introduced, but it did not
become popular, and of late has been disappearing. By a few of the more
well-to-do in the profession, two-horse carriages of various styles are
used; but there is nothing characteristic about them.
THE PHYSICIAN’S GOLD-HEADED CANE.—Much might be written about the
gold-headed cane of the physician. Although it has had its day, it
was long considered an important part of a medical outfit. Jeaffreson
ventures to affirm that formerly “no doctor would have presumed to pay
a professional visit, or even to be seen in public, without this mystic
wand.”[520] What was its history? Did it come down to our time as a
representative of the one placed in the hand of the god of medicine
by the artists? Jeaffreson expresses the opinion that it is “a relic
of the conjuring paraphernalia with which the healer in ignorant and
superstitious times always worked upon the imagination of the credulous,”
and that “it descended to him from Hermes and Mercurius.” “It was a
relic,” he adds, “of old jugglery, and of yet older religion.”[521]
As the reader is aware, these statements are open to criticism. But,
whatever its origin may have been, it was almost universally used by
physicians until recently.
The physician’s cane was generally smooth, of moderate weight, and with
a gold head in the form of a knob. A gold head! What was the meaning
of that? Was it used because of the bearer’s reputed love of the
precious metal? Chaucer says, and with charming casuistry, in the famous
description of his doctor:—
“For gould in physike is a cordial;
Therefore, he lovede gould in special.”[522]
It may, then, have been its medicinal virtues, virtues still occasionally
lauded by therapeutic prospectors, which suggested the use of it in the
cane. But, after all, the desire to make a good appearance may have been
the reason for its use.
The head of the cane was not always solid; on the contrary, it was often,
like many a one’s, doubtless, who carried it, hollow. In the cavity, it
was customary to keep something medicinal, such as ammonia. About this
there was much mystery in the minds of the populace. Jeaffreson, who may
very properly be regarded as of this class, says that the doctor “always
held it to his nose, when he approached a sick person, so that its fumes
might protect him from the noxious exhalations of his patient.”[523]
Something of the kind is still supposed by many to be done. The idea
was entertained by more than a few, that within the head of the cane
existed, in some cases at least, a familiar spirit which gave the owner
extraordinary power. Paracelsus was reputed to have within the pummel of
his long sword, which he used instead of a cane, a genius, in the form of
a bird, which enabled him to perform wonders. Butler speaks of it thus:—
“Bombastus kept a devil’s bird,
Shut up in the pummel of his sword,
That taught him all the cunning pranks
Of past and future mountebanks.”[524]
Alchemists said that it was the philosopher’s stone, but it has been with
better reason conjectured[525] that it was laudanum,—an agent which the
bold, talented quack was in the habit of using much with striking results.
There is preserved, in the College of Physicians of London, a cane which
was carried successively by Drs. Radcliffe, Mead, Askew, Pitcairn, and
Baillie. On it are coats-of-arms used by the distinguished carriers of
it. The gold head of it is in the form of a crooked cross-bar, and not a
knob,—the orthodox one. A book has been written with it for the title,
treating of its several owners.[526]
THE PHYSICIAN’S DRESS.—At the present time there is nothing about the
dress of the physician symbolic of his calling. Formerly the case was
different. Until less than a century ago, the dress of the members of the
medical profession was both decidedly typical and remarkable. It was worn
last, it is said, by Dr. Henry Revell Reynolds, one of the physicians
of George III. The items of it were: a well-powdered three-tailed wig,
a silk coat, breeches, stockings, buckled shoes, and lace ruffles. Says
Jeaffreson: “Next to his cane, the physician’s wig was the most important
of his accoutrements. It gave profound learning and wise thought to lads
just out of their teens.”[527] If this were the case it should be coaxed
into use again.
THE PHYSICIAN’S RING.—Among the ancients, rings were held in high
esteem. The signet of Solomon, which had considerable to do with the
building of the great temple, and the ring of Gyges, the shepherd of the
king of Lydia, through which he could become invisible and see people
at pleasure, are examples of the surprising powers often accorded to
them. One was, until a period not far distant, an important item of the
insignia of the medical man. It is spoken of in one of the spurious
Hippocratic works. The seal variety was the orthodox one. Different
stones were used, and on these were engraved various designs. As
indicative of his position, a learned writer says that the doctor wore
the ring “on the third finger of the right hand.”[528]
The physician’s ring was viewed generally in the light of an amulet,
or talisman. The engraving it bore had much to do with its supposed
virtues; and the stone also gave it special value. Aubrey thus refers to
a sapphire ring: “They say it preserves from infection and pestilential
diseases. See Albertus Magnus _de hoc_. I warrant he has recited virtues
enough of it.”[529] Red carnelian was believed to be curative of
hæmorrhage, and coral of nervous affections.