The treatment of George Washington provides a good example of standard European medical procedure. In 1799 he contracted laryngitis. His treatment consisted of two parts—giving substances and removing bodily liquids.

• Substances ingested—First he was given a mixture of molasses, vinegar, and butter. Then he was made to gargle with vinegar multiple times. He was given several doses of mercuric chloride.
• Substances topically applied—A paste made from the dried corpses of toxic beetles was applied to his neck and chest until blistering occurred.
• Substances inhaled—After that, he was made to inhale vinegar vapors.
•  Catharsis—Finally, emetics and laxatives were repeatedly applied. And there was lots of bloodletting.

Doctors bled Washington heavily several times. Modern historians esteem that the total amount of blood removed from the president was 3.75 liters drawn over a period of nine to 10 hours—a lot of blood over a very short period of time. The doctors noted Washington’s remarkable exterior calm, which was not the peace resulting from effective healing, but most likely profound hypotension and shock caused by the excessive blood loss.

Bloodletting was held in very high esteem. Some actual quotes from the most rested medical authorities:

Scarcely a case of acute of indeed of chronic disease occurs, in which it does not become necessary to consider the propriety of having recourse to the lancet.

The diseases which most require the use of the lancet are precisely those which best bear the loss of blood.

As long as bloodletting is required, it can be borne; and as long as it can be borne, it is required.

The earlier the lancet is applied in the development of an illness, the better the outcome.

In case of pneumonia, one early bloodletting to unconsciousness was thought to subdue the disease entirely. This was best followed by the application of 30–50 leeches and a blistering.