It is well known that in the old days physicians would let the blood out of their patients because they believed this would reduce inflammation, among other things. In fact, many believe that the great President George Washington died from this common medical practice. In that day, the bloodletters where known as Barbers. That is why the pole outside of the Barber's today has the red stripe swirling down it. This is kind of ironic seeing as the Barbers today hold a razor sharp tool to their customer's neck to give them that "baby-face shave."
Of course, nowadays this kind of medical practice seems ridiculous. However, I was amazed to recently learn in my Women In Sport class, that doctors within the history of women in sport, believed in just as ridiculous treatments. When Charlotte Perkins Gilman was in sport her doctor Weir Mitchell told her that by resting and ceasing to exercise, she would be healed from her "nervousness." The common belief was that women who practiced sport were subject to sterilization, chronic fatigue, and many other absurd notions.
I just cannot believe how much opposition woman have faced from participation in sport, especially from the "educated" medical field. This just goes to show how blinding sexism can be; that it can make morons out of medical doctors.
-Chase S. (Women In Sport / Section Kin 338I. s.6)
