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| CShark |
 Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 1:10 pm Post subject: Medieval Trivial Facts |
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Forum Sophomore
Joined: 08 May 2008
Posts: 169
Location: East Coast of Canada
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There is much about the medieval times that fascinates us; knights, castles, royalty, great battles, but what about the every day stuff, the things that today, we would find strange or down right repulsive ? I thought it might be interesting to discuss such trivial, but interesting bits of medieval life.
For example:
The expression "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater" was to be taken literally. As the head of the household, the father had first dibs on the monthly bath water. When he was done, his wife, then eldest children, then the youngest would take their turns. By the time the baby was bathed, the water was often so dirty and black, well..you get the idea.
Or,
A common cure for a sore throat was to tie three live earthworms around your neck. When the worms died, your sore throat was cured! |
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| Harold14370 |
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 9:24 am Post subject: |
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Forum Professor
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1618
Location: Pennsylvania
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| One of my favorite words in English is "gardyloo." People in Scotland used to use that as a warning to pedestrians when they were about to throw slop water out an upstairs window. |
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| Selene |
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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Banned
Joined: 04 Feb 2008
Posts: 1060
Location: I live in Bertrand Russells teapot!
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The term
Frog in your throat
came from Medieval times when Medieval physicians believed that the secretions of a frog could cure a cough if they were coated on the throat of the patient. The frog was placed in the mouth of the sufferer and remained there until the physician decided that the treatment was complete.
Yeuck
Thank goodness all we need do today is suck a lozenge!
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| CShark |
| Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 8:28 am Post subject: |
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Forum Sophomore
Joined: 08 May 2008
Posts: 169
Location: East Coast of Canada
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| When William conquered England, then set up his personal hunting grounds in the 'New Forest', he established a set of laws to protect his game: one of the more interesting ones had to do with the size of any dogs living near or in the forest. If the dog was unable to pass through a large stirrup, it had its toes cut off, so it could not chase down deer. Pretty brutal times... |
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