L.A. Hilden's Blog
April 20, 2015
Disease and Illness in Regency England
Disease and Illness in Regency England
Throughout history, communal diseases have caused many deaths and countless heartbreak. England’s rapid population growth led to overcrowding, poverty, and a lack of sanitary living, which resulted in rampant disease. Patients were often isolated from others, and treatment could be painful, causing death. Below is a limited list of illness and disease, along with herbal remedies and toxins used to try to counter them.
Ague- is another name for malaria. This disease brings on chills, shivering, and fever. The ague existed in England until the mid 19th century, and was transmitted by the mosquito as it is in the West Indies. It was found in the marshlands of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. Proper drainage helped eradicate the disease. Cinchona Bark- 1677 it is listed in the London Pharmacopoeia. Used to cure King Charles II of England from malaria, as well as helping many others.
Apoplexy- is a stroke. The results of a stroke could bring death, while recovery usually involves some paralysis. Many died within hours of the attack. Bloodletting was believed to help the patient. Survivors were sometimes mistaken as mad due to their inability to speak or control bodily functions. Some were placed in asylums.
Cholera- is caused by bacillus that lives in the intestines and is dispelled by human waste. Sewage ran into the Thames, which supplied the drinking water and in turn the disease is ingested. This disease did not affect Europe until the 1830’s. Symptoms are nausea, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, burning feeling in stomach, and thirst. Death usually occurs in 24 hours after first sign of symptoms. Cholera hit London’s slums the hardest. Physicians would treat the symptoms with bloodletting or an opiate like laudanum.
Consumption- is tuberculosis of the lungs. Spread through the air, saliva, and blood. It causes weakness, fatigue, and in the latter stages of the disease people have a burst of energy and creativity. The disease killed more people in Britain in the 1800’s than smallpox, measles, typhus, whooping cough, and scarlet fever combined. Like many of the diseases mentioned, there was not an effective treatment for the disease. It was however seen as a “romantic disease” as the sufferer had a heightened sense of sensitivity as death neared. The disease progressed slowly, allowing people to get their affairs in order. Lord Byron is quoted to have said, “I should like to die from consumption.” The disease came to represent spiritual purity and temporal wealth.
Croup- this name applied to many illnesses at the time, including diphtheria. This disease occurred with children, leading to hoarseness and coughing. Severe cases led to convulsions and death. Nowadays we say the patient is barking like a seal when they contract this virus. Croup causes inflammation in the upper airways. The disease often begins with signs of the common cold. White Horehound Syrup- used to try an alleviate cough and lung trouble. Known to have a pleasant taste.
Diphtheria- was not diagnosed or named correctly until the 1820’s, this illness affected children more severely than adults. Transmitted by sneezing, it caused inflammation in the mucous membranes, making breathing so difficult that it often led to death. Also known as the Boulogne sour throat in England. Today, a vaccination is administered for prevention, usually in a combination DTP shot.
Dropsy-this wasn’t an actual illness, but a symptom of an underlining health issue. Dropsy is swelling in the body caused by fluid. This could be a symptom of kidney problems or poor circulation due to hardened arteries. The person may have edema due to congestive heart failure. Foxglove- highly toxic, given only by doctor. Camomile- is a syrup made using the juice of Camomilien.
Dyspepsia- indigestion caused by overeating and lack of thorough chewing. Fennel- treated indigestion and helped to increase a nursing mother’s milk supply.
Gout- this disease can be hereditary and was found among the upper classes, since they consumed large quantities of meat and wine. The uric acids in combination of the food and drink can cause painful swelling in joints. White Willow Bark- used to treat gout, headaches, diarrhea, and dysentery. It is also known to relieve pain and inflammation.
Palsy- this paralysis is caused by a host of diseases such as Parkinson’s, sciatica, and muscular dystrophy. Partial paralysis can be caused by apoplexy and paraplegia. Palsy causes uncontrollable shaking.
Pleurisy-is an inflammation of the lungs that produces a hacking cough and sharp chest pain. Respiratory infections and pneumonia are the main causes of pleurisy. Milk Weed- helps to relieve breathing difficulties, ease pain, and lesson inflammation. Leeches- applied to ribcage where the pain was located.
Smallpox- virus causes blister bumps on skin and in the mouth and throat, accompanied with a fever. If you get this disease and survive, you would not get it again. Believed to have emerged in 10,000 BC. A smallpox rash was found on Pharaoh Ramses V of Egypt. It can cause blindness due to ocular scarring. Eighty percent of children that contacted this disease died. It is airborne and easily inhaled or transmitted through bodily fluids. One of the first vaccinations ever created was for smallpox in 1798.
Typhoid Fever-brought on by consuming food or water that has been contaminated by human waste either directly or through flies. Could lead to delirium and death if untreated. Often accompanied by a rash that is similar to Typhus. It has four stages with a variety of terrible symptoms. Sanitation and education is the way to prevent it. Bloodletting and Calomel- Calomel is Mercury and it acts as a purgative and kills bacteria. It also does irreversible damage to the patient.
Typhus- is spread by body lice. (aka. Putrid fever) Napoleon’s army lost thousands from this disease on their retreat from Russia in 1812. Symptoms include delirium, headaches, fever, and a rash, which usually cleared in two weeks unless the disease was fatal. The disease is caused from overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. If you have typhus as a child it can return. Jane Austen had typhus as a child. Nothing could cure Typhus until the invention of antibiotics. Bloodletting and diluting the blood-diluting the blood called for mercury and antimony (both toxic) to be administered in doses orally and in enemas. Many patients were stripped naked and doused in cold water since it was believed the patient should be kept cold.
Yellow Fever-a tropical disease spread by mosquitos. It usually occurred in seaports and carried flu like symptoms. This disease killed many British soldiers in the West Indies. Severe cases led to kidney and liver failure. Bloodletting, cold baths, and a calomel and James’s powder purge. Often bled 4-5 times in a 30-hour period.
Regency Home Remedies: Leeches and Bloodletting http://www.lahilden.com/index.php?cat...
Drugs and Addiction in Regency England
http://www.lahilden.com/index.php?cat...
A special thank you to Daniel Pool What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew. Serita Stevens and Anne Bannon, Book of Poisons. Scott Cunningham Magical Herbalism. Roy and Lesley Adkins Jane Austen’s England.
Throughout history, communal diseases have caused many deaths and countless heartbreak. England’s rapid population growth led to overcrowding, poverty, and a lack of sanitary living, which resulted in rampant disease. Patients were often isolated from others, and treatment could be painful, causing death. Below is a limited list of illness and disease, along with herbal remedies and toxins used to try to counter them.
Ague- is another name for malaria. This disease brings on chills, shivering, and fever. The ague existed in England until the mid 19th century, and was transmitted by the mosquito as it is in the West Indies. It was found in the marshlands of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. Proper drainage helped eradicate the disease. Cinchona Bark- 1677 it is listed in the London Pharmacopoeia. Used to cure King Charles II of England from malaria, as well as helping many others.
Apoplexy- is a stroke. The results of a stroke could bring death, while recovery usually involves some paralysis. Many died within hours of the attack. Bloodletting was believed to help the patient. Survivors were sometimes mistaken as mad due to their inability to speak or control bodily functions. Some were placed in asylums.
Cholera- is caused by bacillus that lives in the intestines and is dispelled by human waste. Sewage ran into the Thames, which supplied the drinking water and in turn the disease is ingested. This disease did not affect Europe until the 1830’s. Symptoms are nausea, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, burning feeling in stomach, and thirst. Death usually occurs in 24 hours after first sign of symptoms. Cholera hit London’s slums the hardest. Physicians would treat the symptoms with bloodletting or an opiate like laudanum.
Consumption- is tuberculosis of the lungs. Spread through the air, saliva, and blood. It causes weakness, fatigue, and in the latter stages of the disease people have a burst of energy and creativity. The disease killed more people in Britain in the 1800’s than smallpox, measles, typhus, whooping cough, and scarlet fever combined. Like many of the diseases mentioned, there was not an effective treatment for the disease. It was however seen as a “romantic disease” as the sufferer had a heightened sense of sensitivity as death neared. The disease progressed slowly, allowing people to get their affairs in order. Lord Byron is quoted to have said, “I should like to die from consumption.” The disease came to represent spiritual purity and temporal wealth.
Croup- this name applied to many illnesses at the time, including diphtheria. This disease occurred with children, leading to hoarseness and coughing. Severe cases led to convulsions and death. Nowadays we say the patient is barking like a seal when they contract this virus. Croup causes inflammation in the upper airways. The disease often begins with signs of the common cold. White Horehound Syrup- used to try an alleviate cough and lung trouble. Known to have a pleasant taste.
Diphtheria- was not diagnosed or named correctly until the 1820’s, this illness affected children more severely than adults. Transmitted by sneezing, it caused inflammation in the mucous membranes, making breathing so difficult that it often led to death. Also known as the Boulogne sour throat in England. Today, a vaccination is administered for prevention, usually in a combination DTP shot.
Dropsy-this wasn’t an actual illness, but a symptom of an underlining health issue. Dropsy is swelling in the body caused by fluid. This could be a symptom of kidney problems or poor circulation due to hardened arteries. The person may have edema due to congestive heart failure. Foxglove- highly toxic, given only by doctor. Camomile- is a syrup made using the juice of Camomilien.
Dyspepsia- indigestion caused by overeating and lack of thorough chewing. Fennel- treated indigestion and helped to increase a nursing mother’s milk supply.
Gout- this disease can be hereditary and was found among the upper classes, since they consumed large quantities of meat and wine. The uric acids in combination of the food and drink can cause painful swelling in joints. White Willow Bark- used to treat gout, headaches, diarrhea, and dysentery. It is also known to relieve pain and inflammation.
Palsy- this paralysis is caused by a host of diseases such as Parkinson’s, sciatica, and muscular dystrophy. Partial paralysis can be caused by apoplexy and paraplegia. Palsy causes uncontrollable shaking.
Pleurisy-is an inflammation of the lungs that produces a hacking cough and sharp chest pain. Respiratory infections and pneumonia are the main causes of pleurisy. Milk Weed- helps to relieve breathing difficulties, ease pain, and lesson inflammation. Leeches- applied to ribcage where the pain was located.
Smallpox- virus causes blister bumps on skin and in the mouth and throat, accompanied with a fever. If you get this disease and survive, you would not get it again. Believed to have emerged in 10,000 BC. A smallpox rash was found on Pharaoh Ramses V of Egypt. It can cause blindness due to ocular scarring. Eighty percent of children that contacted this disease died. It is airborne and easily inhaled or transmitted through bodily fluids. One of the first vaccinations ever created was for smallpox in 1798.
Typhoid Fever-brought on by consuming food or water that has been contaminated by human waste either directly or through flies. Could lead to delirium and death if untreated. Often accompanied by a rash that is similar to Typhus. It has four stages with a variety of terrible symptoms. Sanitation and education is the way to prevent it. Bloodletting and Calomel- Calomel is Mercury and it acts as a purgative and kills bacteria. It also does irreversible damage to the patient.
Typhus- is spread by body lice. (aka. Putrid fever) Napoleon’s army lost thousands from this disease on their retreat from Russia in 1812. Symptoms include delirium, headaches, fever, and a rash, which usually cleared in two weeks unless the disease was fatal. The disease is caused from overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. If you have typhus as a child it can return. Jane Austen had typhus as a child. Nothing could cure Typhus until the invention of antibiotics. Bloodletting and diluting the blood-diluting the blood called for mercury and antimony (both toxic) to be administered in doses orally and in enemas. Many patients were stripped naked and doused in cold water since it was believed the patient should be kept cold.
Yellow Fever-a tropical disease spread by mosquitos. It usually occurred in seaports and carried flu like symptoms. This disease killed many British soldiers in the West Indies. Severe cases led to kidney and liver failure. Bloodletting, cold baths, and a calomel and James’s powder purge. Often bled 4-5 times in a 30-hour period.
Regency Home Remedies: Leeches and Bloodletting http://www.lahilden.com/index.php?cat...
Drugs and Addiction in Regency England
http://www.lahilden.com/index.php?cat...
A special thank you to Daniel Pool What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew. Serita Stevens and Anne Bannon, Book of Poisons. Scott Cunningham Magical Herbalism. Roy and Lesley Adkins Jane Austen’s England.
June 23, 2014
Sacred Geometry
I’ve been working on my spiritual witches series. This series delves into Reiki, the afterlife, energy, witchcraft, reincarnation, ancient Egypt, astral travel, time travel, and of course, love. One of the subjects I explored was Sacred Geometry. Sacred Geometry involves universal patterns used in the design of everything in our reality. This includes the Golden Ratio (Phi), Divine Proportion, and Consciousness.
The belief that God created the universe according to a geometric plan has been believed since ancient times. These beliefs were culminated through the study of nature and the mathematical principals at work. These harmonic proportions are found in music, light, and cosmology. Sacred Geometry is used when planning the building of churches, temples, mosques, altars, and other religious structures. It is also used in holy places and in religious art. Sacred Geometry has symbolic and sacred meanings, which are ascribed to geometric shapes of various proportions.
These geometrical patterns can be found throughout nature and history.
The honeybee constructs hexagonal cells to store honey.
The ancient Egyptians geometrically aligned the Great Pyramids with Orion’s belt.
It is said that by connecting with these pattern recognitions of Sacred Geometry that the believer contemplates the “Great Mysteries and Great Design” and that the insight gained may assist in achieving an understanding of the laws of the universe.
In music, modern theorists claim reality is created by harmonics following the pattern of Sacred Geometry. Pythagoreans believed these harmonic ratios gave music the power to heal. Like Reiki energy, music can align the chakras and heal the body by lifting energy vibration levels.
The Flower of Life can be found in all major religions of the world and the Seed of Life is found in every Flower. The Flower of Life is the modern name given to the geometrical figure of multiple and evenly spaced, overlapping circles. These circles are arranged to form a flower like pattern with a six-fold symmetry like a hexagon.
To some, the Flower of Life contains the fundamental forms of space and time, seen as a visual expression to connect all souls, and believed to be a type of Akashic Record for all living things. The oldest representation of the Flower of Life was found in stone at the Temple of Osiris in Abydos, Egypt.
Consciousness and reality are set in linear time. We are here to experience and record human emotion. Sacred Geometry revolves around the Wheel of Time or Karma, where we experience earthly life and evolve. We are eternal souls of light having a human experience, where our consciousness spirals down through the patterns of the Golden Ratio, until we reverse the spiral and return to the Creator.
Illustrative Pictures are available on my page at http://www.lahilden.com/index.php?cat...
For more information regarding Sacred Geometry and its portrayal in the Bible, and to further understand the creation of man according to Sacred Geometry, I suggest watching the following video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx31y...
A special thank you to www.crystallinks and Sacred Geometry Explained-YouTube
The belief that God created the universe according to a geometric plan has been believed since ancient times. These beliefs were culminated through the study of nature and the mathematical principals at work. These harmonic proportions are found in music, light, and cosmology. Sacred Geometry is used when planning the building of churches, temples, mosques, altars, and other religious structures. It is also used in holy places and in religious art. Sacred Geometry has symbolic and sacred meanings, which are ascribed to geometric shapes of various proportions.
These geometrical patterns can be found throughout nature and history.
The honeybee constructs hexagonal cells to store honey.
The ancient Egyptians geometrically aligned the Great Pyramids with Orion’s belt.
It is said that by connecting with these pattern recognitions of Sacred Geometry that the believer contemplates the “Great Mysteries and Great Design” and that the insight gained may assist in achieving an understanding of the laws of the universe.
In music, modern theorists claim reality is created by harmonics following the pattern of Sacred Geometry. Pythagoreans believed these harmonic ratios gave music the power to heal. Like Reiki energy, music can align the chakras and heal the body by lifting energy vibration levels.
The Flower of Life can be found in all major religions of the world and the Seed of Life is found in every Flower. The Flower of Life is the modern name given to the geometrical figure of multiple and evenly spaced, overlapping circles. These circles are arranged to form a flower like pattern with a six-fold symmetry like a hexagon.
To some, the Flower of Life contains the fundamental forms of space and time, seen as a visual expression to connect all souls, and believed to be a type of Akashic Record for all living things. The oldest representation of the Flower of Life was found in stone at the Temple of Osiris in Abydos, Egypt.
Consciousness and reality are set in linear time. We are here to experience and record human emotion. Sacred Geometry revolves around the Wheel of Time or Karma, where we experience earthly life and evolve. We are eternal souls of light having a human experience, where our consciousness spirals down through the patterns of the Golden Ratio, until we reverse the spiral and return to the Creator.
Illustrative Pictures are available on my page at http://www.lahilden.com/index.php?cat...
For more information regarding Sacred Geometry and its portrayal in the Bible, and to further understand the creation of man according to Sacred Geometry, I suggest watching the following video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx31y...
A special thank you to www.crystallinks and Sacred Geometry Explained-YouTube
June 2, 2014
Why is a Rabbit's Foot Lucky?
Why is the Rabbit's Foot Considered Lucky?
The rabbit’s foot is often used as an amulet to bring about luck. The lucky rabbit’s foot originated from ancient beliefs held by the Celts around 600 BC. The Celts considered the rabbit a friend to the god of fertility, due the rapid rate in which rabbits reproduce. Rabbits are also associated with spring and the return of flowers and foliage. Since rabbits live underground, the foot of the rabbit was used to protect a person from evil spirits.
Women who wished to become pregnant or those who wished to enhance their sexual lives, also carried the rabbit’s foot. In the 16th century, Reginald Scot, an Englishman who wrote The Discoverie of Witchcraft in 1584, claimed a rabbit’s foot in your pocket would ease arthritis pain. The belief in the lucky rabbit’s foot is seen in Europe, China, Africa, and North and South America, but the view of the rabbit’s foot varies by culture. To the Chinese, the rabbit’s foot symbolizes prosperity.
Not all of the rabbit’s feet are considered lucky. When rabbits run, their hind legs land of the ground first, thus it was their right hind leg that was considered magical, since the left was often associated with the devil. One superstition claims that the foot would only be lucky if the rabbit was shot in the cemetery at night with a silver bullet.
In hoodoo, which is a mix of African/American folk magic, the rabbit’s foot was used in various ceremonies. Superstition claims that carrying the foot will bring you good luck, and rubbing it on the bottom of a baby’s foot will assure the child good luck for life.
Not all beliefs regarding the rabbit’s foot are said to grant luck, for there were some that believed they evoked bad luck if the owner of the rabbit’s foot kept the talisman for themselves. The good luck was only believed to come if the owner gave the rabbit’s foot to another. This would bless the giver and receiver of the rabbit’s foot luck, but if the receiver lost the lucky talisman, both giver and receiver would be met with bad luck.
Animal rights activists have concerns regarding the killing of rabbits for such a purpose, and thus encouragement toward the rabbit’s foot as a lucky charm is passing into history. Although you can still buy them in some countries, synthetic alternatives are readily available.
A special thanks to Scientific American and Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
www.lahilden.com
The rabbit’s foot is often used as an amulet to bring about luck. The lucky rabbit’s foot originated from ancient beliefs held by the Celts around 600 BC. The Celts considered the rabbit a friend to the god of fertility, due the rapid rate in which rabbits reproduce. Rabbits are also associated with spring and the return of flowers and foliage. Since rabbits live underground, the foot of the rabbit was used to protect a person from evil spirits.
Women who wished to become pregnant or those who wished to enhance their sexual lives, also carried the rabbit’s foot. In the 16th century, Reginald Scot, an Englishman who wrote The Discoverie of Witchcraft in 1584, claimed a rabbit’s foot in your pocket would ease arthritis pain. The belief in the lucky rabbit’s foot is seen in Europe, China, Africa, and North and South America, but the view of the rabbit’s foot varies by culture. To the Chinese, the rabbit’s foot symbolizes prosperity.
Not all of the rabbit’s feet are considered lucky. When rabbits run, their hind legs land of the ground first, thus it was their right hind leg that was considered magical, since the left was often associated with the devil. One superstition claims that the foot would only be lucky if the rabbit was shot in the cemetery at night with a silver bullet.
In hoodoo, which is a mix of African/American folk magic, the rabbit’s foot was used in various ceremonies. Superstition claims that carrying the foot will bring you good luck, and rubbing it on the bottom of a baby’s foot will assure the child good luck for life.
Not all beliefs regarding the rabbit’s foot are said to grant luck, for there were some that believed they evoked bad luck if the owner of the rabbit’s foot kept the talisman for themselves. The good luck was only believed to come if the owner gave the rabbit’s foot to another. This would bless the giver and receiver of the rabbit’s foot luck, but if the receiver lost the lucky talisman, both giver and receiver would be met with bad luck.
Animal rights activists have concerns regarding the killing of rabbits for such a purpose, and thus encouragement toward the rabbit’s foot as a lucky charm is passing into history. Although you can still buy them in some countries, synthetic alternatives are readily available.
A special thanks to Scientific American and Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
www.lahilden.com
April 28, 2014
When Your Wrist Fan Speaks
Fans have been sending messages since their inception. Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, surrounded herself by slaves who fanned her in an effort to ward off the scorching heat. The fan was seen as a sacred instrument by the Egyptians and was used in religious ceremonies in many ancient cultures. It was a symbol of royal power.
Over time, fans became more than ceremonial symbols, tools to cool us, or another pretty accessory, they became an instrument for ladies to speak in secret code.
Allowing your wrist fan to do the talking became second nature to some in Regency England. During this time a person was often judged and defined by the cut of their jib, or in this situation, the fineness of your fan. Fans gained popularity in the 16th century, but these were fixed fans, often made from feathers or wood. The folding fan originated in Japan and over time came to replace the fixed fan by the end of the 17th century. Fixed fans had become gauche and a lady would be considered quite out of fashion is she carried one.
The folding fans, made from vellum or paper, were considered stylish, but they could be costly. Fans were often painted with historic commemorative events, Biblical passages, Asian, mythological, or pastoral scenes. Fans were used both in the day and night time hours, but eventually they were restricted to the evening. During the Regency period, Vernis Martin fans were highly sought. The Martin brothers came up with a special technique for the hand painted scenes, and their fans had the mother of pearl handle guards. Not only did artists partake in this new canvas, but ladies also took to painting their own fans.
There were three types of folding fans. The old folding type had sticks fastened together and pleated fabric or paper fastened to the sticks. The cockade fan was pleaded paper, attached with two sticks, and opened into a full circle, with the sticks forming the handle. From what I learned during my research, cockade fans were not used in ballrooms. The brisé fan had numerous sticks put together that were painted individually to form a scene.
Fans, like many accessories, followed fashion trends, and when dresses became more colorful and elaborate, so too did the fans. Over the centuries, a type of fan language evolved, this was likely a way for the young to cope with the stifling rules of social etiquette at the time. When proper decorum insisted that a lady could not approach a man they’re interested in or reject a man that they’re not, what is a lady to do? Seems they create their own type of sign language to send their rejections or encouragement with the hopes that parents will be none the wiser. I can’t imagine what occurs if you move your fan in a way that wasn’t intended, but I think it would be great to add to a story. Some historians argue that fan language didn’t exist. But Charles Francis Badini’s book, Fanology or Ladies’ Conversation Fan, was published in 1797 and fan usage was published in many etiquette books and magazines at the time. Perhaps it was all a ploy to gain more fan sales. Badini’s book listed the gestures and what these secret flicks of the wrist conveyed.
Here’s a small list of gestures from his book:
Carrying Open fan: come speak with me
Twirling the fan in the right hand: I love another
Twirling the fan in the left hand: We are being watched
Placing the fan near your heart: I love you
A half-closed fan pressed to the lips: You may kiss me
Letting the fan rest on the right cheek: Yes
Letting the fan rest on the left cheek: No
Dropping the fan: We will be friends
After reading a small portion of the gestures I tend to wonder how many men actually read the subtle clues ladies were giving them across a dance floor. Seems you could hold an entire conversation just by moving your fan. The fan reached its peak during the Victorian era, but they fell out of favor in the mid-20th century.
You can find pictures of these types of fans on my site.
http://www.lahilden.com/index.php?cat...
A special thank you to inkwellinspirations.com, angelpig.net, and ageofsteam.com
Over time, fans became more than ceremonial symbols, tools to cool us, or another pretty accessory, they became an instrument for ladies to speak in secret code.
Allowing your wrist fan to do the talking became second nature to some in Regency England. During this time a person was often judged and defined by the cut of their jib, or in this situation, the fineness of your fan. Fans gained popularity in the 16th century, but these were fixed fans, often made from feathers or wood. The folding fan originated in Japan and over time came to replace the fixed fan by the end of the 17th century. Fixed fans had become gauche and a lady would be considered quite out of fashion is she carried one.
The folding fans, made from vellum or paper, were considered stylish, but they could be costly. Fans were often painted with historic commemorative events, Biblical passages, Asian, mythological, or pastoral scenes. Fans were used both in the day and night time hours, but eventually they were restricted to the evening. During the Regency period, Vernis Martin fans were highly sought. The Martin brothers came up with a special technique for the hand painted scenes, and their fans had the mother of pearl handle guards. Not only did artists partake in this new canvas, but ladies also took to painting their own fans.
There were three types of folding fans. The old folding type had sticks fastened together and pleated fabric or paper fastened to the sticks. The cockade fan was pleaded paper, attached with two sticks, and opened into a full circle, with the sticks forming the handle. From what I learned during my research, cockade fans were not used in ballrooms. The brisé fan had numerous sticks put together that were painted individually to form a scene.
Fans, like many accessories, followed fashion trends, and when dresses became more colorful and elaborate, so too did the fans. Over the centuries, a type of fan language evolved, this was likely a way for the young to cope with the stifling rules of social etiquette at the time. When proper decorum insisted that a lady could not approach a man they’re interested in or reject a man that they’re not, what is a lady to do? Seems they create their own type of sign language to send their rejections or encouragement with the hopes that parents will be none the wiser. I can’t imagine what occurs if you move your fan in a way that wasn’t intended, but I think it would be great to add to a story. Some historians argue that fan language didn’t exist. But Charles Francis Badini’s book, Fanology or Ladies’ Conversation Fan, was published in 1797 and fan usage was published in many etiquette books and magazines at the time. Perhaps it was all a ploy to gain more fan sales. Badini’s book listed the gestures and what these secret flicks of the wrist conveyed.
Here’s a small list of gestures from his book:
Carrying Open fan: come speak with me
Twirling the fan in the right hand: I love another
Twirling the fan in the left hand: We are being watched
Placing the fan near your heart: I love you
A half-closed fan pressed to the lips: You may kiss me
Letting the fan rest on the right cheek: Yes
Letting the fan rest on the left cheek: No
Dropping the fan: We will be friends
After reading a small portion of the gestures I tend to wonder how many men actually read the subtle clues ladies were giving them across a dance floor. Seems you could hold an entire conversation just by moving your fan. The fan reached its peak during the Victorian era, but they fell out of favor in the mid-20th century.
You can find pictures of these types of fans on my site.
http://www.lahilden.com/index.php?cat...
A special thank you to inkwellinspirations.com, angelpig.net, and ageofsteam.com
February 17, 2014
Regency England and Medical Care
Visiting a doctor in the 21st century isn’t fun, but visiting a doctor in Regency England was often life threatening, and your treatment depended on how much you could afford to pay. This is why home remedies were tried before the doctor was summoned. There were three medical practitioners functioning during the time of Regency England. Physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries, but I think midwives should also have a place and have included them below.
Doctors
We shall begin with the physicians, who are considered to have better training and experience. The physician often came from a genteel background. They were the second or third sons of a gentleman. The doctors attended prestigious schools and earned their degree at a university. These universities were associated with various hospitals. Their training did not include an apprenticeship, nor did they practice on actual patients. A doctor’s education consisted of listening to medical procedures taught in a lecture hall.
Doctors were considered expensive and hired by the members of the aristocracy. They also liked to be paid in a discreet manner, since theoretically, gentlemen did not accept money for work. Only physicians that were licensed by the Royal College of Physicians were addressed by the title of doctor. If a doctor was staying with a family, he was likely to be invited to dine with them.
Surgeons
Surgeons were not regarded as highly as doctors, nor were they like the surgeons of today. Surgeons in Regency England were more like general practitioners, and usually had an apprenticeship under a doctor. In 1815, the laws of apprenticeship changed to require a five-year apprenticeship and a six-month training course to receive a license as a surgeon, prior to this they were not very educated. Most surgeons of the period learned from on the job training. Medical knowledge at the time was obtained through trial and error, where experiments were conducted and observations were made and noted in journals. These medical journals were a source of knowledge for those in the medical field, unfortunately these journals were expensive, so poorer doctors often shared the subscription and passed the journals amongst each other.
Surgery was performed without anesthesia, and was usually limited to amputation or noninvasive surgeries, like cyst removal. Ether wasn’t discovered until 1842. Before this time, people who needed surgery were given large does of alcohol, opium, cannabis, or mandrake, which were not very effective. Less effective measures of pain relief were ice, hypnosis, bloodletting, and nerve compression. If the pain didn’t kill you, then an infection might, since the chances of dying from infection were very high. Because the surgeons performed amputations, and lacked the university education, they were seen below doctors in social circles, and thus if staying with a family he would likely dine with the upper servants.
Apothecary
Apothecaries were considered the poor man’s doctor. They were apprenticed to learn about drugs. In essence, they were Regency pharmacists and deemed as tradesmen. But in villages or rural areas, where doctors were scarce, it was the apothecary who would come to your home to treat you. The problem was that many of these elixirs given for treatment were toxic. See my early blog on Drugs and Addiction. Apothecaries were seen even further down on the social scale and fall beneath the surgeons. An apothecary’s chance of staying to eat with the family was slim, but he would dine with the servants, if invited at all.
Midwives and Women
Women during the era acted as midwives, nurses, and herbal healers. But during the Regency, more men began to enter into midwifery. Midwives delivered the majority of babies. Forceps had been invented by this time for difficult births, but female midwives often wouldn’t use them, while the males would. Cases of childbed fever increased, due to forceps use. C-sections were rarely used because of the high rate of infection. An obstructed baby would be killed and removed in pieces. If the mother died, they would try to save the baby, but the procedure had to be done quickly or the baby wouldn’t receive oxygen. Husbands were often consulted before these life or death tactics were taken.
A few doctors were knighted for doctoring the royal family, and although the aristocracy hired doctors, they did not invite them to their parties. Most of the doctors treated patients in towns and villages, and they rarely visited the hospitals. People were often treated inside of their home. The hospitals were mostly located in the cities, and not used by the majority of the population. Hospitals were considered places of contagion.
Items used by a Regency doctor often included the black leather medical bag, lancets, scalpels, syringes, and bleeding cups. The Frenchman, René Laennec, invented the stethoscope during the Regency era in 1816. Hand washing and changing bandages were not concerns, so illnesses often spread or caused infections. You can see more on medical treatments by referring to my blog on Leeches and Bloodletting.
Although medicine was hit or miss, new medicines were discovered, such as quinine, calamine, proven herbal remedies, and others. Edward Jenner improved upon the small pox vaccination during the Regency, making it the first infectious disease to be restrained in this manner.
A special thanks to thebeaumonde.com and Roy and Lesley Adkins, Jane Austen’s England and romancingthepast.com
You can view the pictures and this article on my webpage with the link below.
http://www.lahilden.com/index.php?cat...
Doctors
We shall begin with the physicians, who are considered to have better training and experience. The physician often came from a genteel background. They were the second or third sons of a gentleman. The doctors attended prestigious schools and earned their degree at a university. These universities were associated with various hospitals. Their training did not include an apprenticeship, nor did they practice on actual patients. A doctor’s education consisted of listening to medical procedures taught in a lecture hall.
Doctors were considered expensive and hired by the members of the aristocracy. They also liked to be paid in a discreet manner, since theoretically, gentlemen did not accept money for work. Only physicians that were licensed by the Royal College of Physicians were addressed by the title of doctor. If a doctor was staying with a family, he was likely to be invited to dine with them.
Surgeons
Surgeons were not regarded as highly as doctors, nor were they like the surgeons of today. Surgeons in Regency England were more like general practitioners, and usually had an apprenticeship under a doctor. In 1815, the laws of apprenticeship changed to require a five-year apprenticeship and a six-month training course to receive a license as a surgeon, prior to this they were not very educated. Most surgeons of the period learned from on the job training. Medical knowledge at the time was obtained through trial and error, where experiments were conducted and observations were made and noted in journals. These medical journals were a source of knowledge for those in the medical field, unfortunately these journals were expensive, so poorer doctors often shared the subscription and passed the journals amongst each other.
Surgery was performed without anesthesia, and was usually limited to amputation or noninvasive surgeries, like cyst removal. Ether wasn’t discovered until 1842. Before this time, people who needed surgery were given large does of alcohol, opium, cannabis, or mandrake, which were not very effective. Less effective measures of pain relief were ice, hypnosis, bloodletting, and nerve compression. If the pain didn’t kill you, then an infection might, since the chances of dying from infection were very high. Because the surgeons performed amputations, and lacked the university education, they were seen below doctors in social circles, and thus if staying with a family he would likely dine with the upper servants.
Apothecary
Apothecaries were considered the poor man’s doctor. They were apprenticed to learn about drugs. In essence, they were Regency pharmacists and deemed as tradesmen. But in villages or rural areas, where doctors were scarce, it was the apothecary who would come to your home to treat you. The problem was that many of these elixirs given for treatment were toxic. See my early blog on Drugs and Addiction. Apothecaries were seen even further down on the social scale and fall beneath the surgeons. An apothecary’s chance of staying to eat with the family was slim, but he would dine with the servants, if invited at all.
Midwives and Women
Women during the era acted as midwives, nurses, and herbal healers. But during the Regency, more men began to enter into midwifery. Midwives delivered the majority of babies. Forceps had been invented by this time for difficult births, but female midwives often wouldn’t use them, while the males would. Cases of childbed fever increased, due to forceps use. C-sections were rarely used because of the high rate of infection. An obstructed baby would be killed and removed in pieces. If the mother died, they would try to save the baby, but the procedure had to be done quickly or the baby wouldn’t receive oxygen. Husbands were often consulted before these life or death tactics were taken.
A few doctors were knighted for doctoring the royal family, and although the aristocracy hired doctors, they did not invite them to their parties. Most of the doctors treated patients in towns and villages, and they rarely visited the hospitals. People were often treated inside of their home. The hospitals were mostly located in the cities, and not used by the majority of the population. Hospitals were considered places of contagion.
Items used by a Regency doctor often included the black leather medical bag, lancets, scalpels, syringes, and bleeding cups. The Frenchman, René Laennec, invented the stethoscope during the Regency era in 1816. Hand washing and changing bandages were not concerns, so illnesses often spread or caused infections. You can see more on medical treatments by referring to my blog on Leeches and Bloodletting.
Although medicine was hit or miss, new medicines were discovered, such as quinine, calamine, proven herbal remedies, and others. Edward Jenner improved upon the small pox vaccination during the Regency, making it the first infectious disease to be restrained in this manner.
A special thanks to thebeaumonde.com and Roy and Lesley Adkins, Jane Austen’s England and romancingthepast.com
You can view the pictures and this article on my webpage with the link below.
http://www.lahilden.com/index.php?cat...
January 13, 2014
Why is the Horseshoe considered lucky?
Since early history, working animals were exposed to hoof damage from excessive wear. In ancient Asia, horses hooves were often wrapped in rawhide or other materials for protection. The early Roman’s also attempted to wrap their horses’ hooves with a solid, leather and metal contraption, called the hipposandal. The nailed type of horseshoe came later. The earliest written record of an iron horseshoe was in 910 A.D. Around 1000 A.D., cast, bronze horseshoes with nail holes became common. By the early 11th century, iron horseshoes were manufactured, and due to the value of iron at the time, horseshoes could be accepted to pay taxes. The continual need for horseshoes, placed blacksmiths in high demand, and their craft led to the development of metallurgy.
Interesting history, but why is the horseshoe considered lucky? Why do we see them hung over barn doors and along fences? There are a couple of reasons. First, lucky horseshoes came into being during festive occasions, where a silver shoe was hammered into a horse’s hoof before the parade, and the retriever won a prize.
Another reason the horseshoe is lucky is because it is said to ward off witches and devils. The iron used to make the shoe was an element believed to ward off fairy folk and evil entities. Why iron? Iron smells like human blood and blood is our life force. Iron is also found deep in the earth and considered the life force of the earth. Thus iron, like silver, could ward off witches, fairies, and ghosts. Although if witches existed, then they likely used iron cauldrons, so their fear of that element seems convoluted. I’d like to note that prison bars, cemetery gates, and many crucifixes are also made out of iron, which is interesting. So lower entities of energy dissipate from the grounding element of iron.
Legend says that the blacksmith, Saint Dunstan, nailed a horseshoe to the devil’s foot, with a guarantee that the devil would leave his family in peace if he nailed a horseshoe on the door.
Horseshoes are still seen in the 21st century as well, although I’m unsure if people know the stories behind the symbol they are hanging. Nailing a horseshoe on the barn was said to prevent a witch from taking or riding your horses. Western culture claims the user of the lucky talisman should leave the ends upward, so that the luck doesn’t drain out. Other cultures suggest leaving the ends downward to shower the person with luck. Most cultures believed that since the horseshoe protects the horse, then it must protect people too. The horseshoe being recognized as good luck dates back to the 4th century in Greece. They felt that the iron horseshoe drove away evil and the shape of the horseshoe represented the crescent moon, which was known as a symbol of fertility and good luck. The horseshoe was a potent charm on land or sea. Horseshoes were nailed to the masts of ships to protect the crew during storms. The rule of luck regarding a horseshoe is if you find one and there are nails still in it, count them, for the more nails means a luckier you. In Northumberland, the rule was that the holes missing nails, indicated the number of years remaining until the person who found the item weds.
A Poem by James T. Fields
The stranger asked to see the shoe;
The farmer brought it into view;
But when the old man raised his head;
He laughed outright and quickly said;
“No wonder skies upon you frown,
You’ve nailed the horse-shoe upside down;
Just turn it round, and soon you’ll see
How you and Fortune will agree.”
A special thanks to Diabolicalconfusions.wordpress.com and The History & Use of Amulets, Charms and Talisman by Gary R. Varner
Interesting history, but why is the horseshoe considered lucky? Why do we see them hung over barn doors and along fences? There are a couple of reasons. First, lucky horseshoes came into being during festive occasions, where a silver shoe was hammered into a horse’s hoof before the parade, and the retriever won a prize.
Another reason the horseshoe is lucky is because it is said to ward off witches and devils. The iron used to make the shoe was an element believed to ward off fairy folk and evil entities. Why iron? Iron smells like human blood and blood is our life force. Iron is also found deep in the earth and considered the life force of the earth. Thus iron, like silver, could ward off witches, fairies, and ghosts. Although if witches existed, then they likely used iron cauldrons, so their fear of that element seems convoluted. I’d like to note that prison bars, cemetery gates, and many crucifixes are also made out of iron, which is interesting. So lower entities of energy dissipate from the grounding element of iron.
Legend says that the blacksmith, Saint Dunstan, nailed a horseshoe to the devil’s foot, with a guarantee that the devil would leave his family in peace if he nailed a horseshoe on the door.
Horseshoes are still seen in the 21st century as well, although I’m unsure if people know the stories behind the symbol they are hanging. Nailing a horseshoe on the barn was said to prevent a witch from taking or riding your horses. Western culture claims the user of the lucky talisman should leave the ends upward, so that the luck doesn’t drain out. Other cultures suggest leaving the ends downward to shower the person with luck. Most cultures believed that since the horseshoe protects the horse, then it must protect people too. The horseshoe being recognized as good luck dates back to the 4th century in Greece. They felt that the iron horseshoe drove away evil and the shape of the horseshoe represented the crescent moon, which was known as a symbol of fertility and good luck. The horseshoe was a potent charm on land or sea. Horseshoes were nailed to the masts of ships to protect the crew during storms. The rule of luck regarding a horseshoe is if you find one and there are nails still in it, count them, for the more nails means a luckier you. In Northumberland, the rule was that the holes missing nails, indicated the number of years remaining until the person who found the item weds.
A Poem by James T. Fields
The stranger asked to see the shoe;
The farmer brought it into view;
But when the old man raised his head;
He laughed outright and quickly said;
“No wonder skies upon you frown,
You’ve nailed the horse-shoe upside down;
Just turn it round, and soon you’ll see
How you and Fortune will agree.”
A special thanks to Diabolicalconfusions.wordpress.com and The History & Use of Amulets, Charms and Talisman by Gary R. Varner
December 16, 2013
Symbolism of the Feather
Feathers symbolize ascension to the spiritual plane. In most cultures, feathers represented higher thought and spiritual progression. Birds were considered divine creatures because they are of the sky and therefore closer to God.
Feathers were worn by the Native Americans to symbolize their communication with the Great Spirit and to convey their celestial wisdom. Feathers also represented the thunder gods and the power of the air and wind. For the Native American tribes, the gifting of feathers is a high honor and they are seen as a sign of trust, strength, wisdom, honor, and freedom.
The ancient Celts and Egyptians believed the feather represented the sky gods. Ma’at, the Egyptian goddess of Justice, would weigh the hearts of the newly dead on the Scales of Justice against the weight of her ostrich feather to determine the soul’s worth. Souls not worthy were eaten by Ammit, an Egyptian demon.
In Christianity, feathers represent the virtues of charity, hope, and faith.
Feathers are used in sacred ceremonies for many purposes, but different types and colors of feathers have differing meanings. When I was little, my neighbors had a bunch of peacocks and I’d always hear their calls. To me their calls sounded like laughter, but my brother believed they were calling his name, which I found hysterical. My mother had a big vase of these iridescence and colorful feathers in our house. The beautiful peacock feather is a symbol of integrity and the beauty we can achieve if we show our true colors. I’ve always admired the colors on the peacock feather. The “eye” that adorns some of these feathers is considered to promote luck, protection, and awareness. Many ancient cultures saw the peacock as an enchanted beast since it discarded such beautiful feathers during its annual molt. Some see the peacock as a manifestation of the Phoenix and believe the feathers hold power. The peacock was coveted by royalty in ancient Egypt, the penalty for a lessor individual having a peacock feather in their possession was death.
For Christians, the peacock represents the death and resurrection of Jesus. It’s a symbol of renewal and immortality within their spiritual teachings. The peacock often appears with the other animals in the stables of Christ’s nativity.
When you find feathers on your path, this may be a sign of encouragement for you to continue a higher spiritual direction. Feathers are also believed to be sent from the angels as a sign to show that they are near and that you are not alone. Oft times, they are shown to you as a message to lighten your outlook on things currently happening in your life. Finding bird feathers is a reflection of change and reaching new levels of consciousness. Remember that feathers appear when angels are near.
An old Scottish saying: “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.”
A special thank you to www.whats-your-sign.com and Ted Andrews, Animal Speak.
You can visit my blog at: www.lahilden.com
Feathers were worn by the Native Americans to symbolize their communication with the Great Spirit and to convey their celestial wisdom. Feathers also represented the thunder gods and the power of the air and wind. For the Native American tribes, the gifting of feathers is a high honor and they are seen as a sign of trust, strength, wisdom, honor, and freedom.
The ancient Celts and Egyptians believed the feather represented the sky gods. Ma’at, the Egyptian goddess of Justice, would weigh the hearts of the newly dead on the Scales of Justice against the weight of her ostrich feather to determine the soul’s worth. Souls not worthy were eaten by Ammit, an Egyptian demon.
In Christianity, feathers represent the virtues of charity, hope, and faith.
Feathers are used in sacred ceremonies for many purposes, but different types and colors of feathers have differing meanings. When I was little, my neighbors had a bunch of peacocks and I’d always hear their calls. To me their calls sounded like laughter, but my brother believed they were calling his name, which I found hysterical. My mother had a big vase of these iridescence and colorful feathers in our house. The beautiful peacock feather is a symbol of integrity and the beauty we can achieve if we show our true colors. I’ve always admired the colors on the peacock feather. The “eye” that adorns some of these feathers is considered to promote luck, protection, and awareness. Many ancient cultures saw the peacock as an enchanted beast since it discarded such beautiful feathers during its annual molt. Some see the peacock as a manifestation of the Phoenix and believe the feathers hold power. The peacock was coveted by royalty in ancient Egypt, the penalty for a lessor individual having a peacock feather in their possession was death.
For Christians, the peacock represents the death and resurrection of Jesus. It’s a symbol of renewal and immortality within their spiritual teachings. The peacock often appears with the other animals in the stables of Christ’s nativity.
When you find feathers on your path, this may be a sign of encouragement for you to continue a higher spiritual direction. Feathers are also believed to be sent from the angels as a sign to show that they are near and that you are not alone. Oft times, they are shown to you as a message to lighten your outlook on things currently happening in your life. Finding bird feathers is a reflection of change and reaching new levels of consciousness. Remember that feathers appear when angels are near.
An old Scottish saying: “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.”
A special thank you to www.whats-your-sign.com and Ted Andrews, Animal Speak.
You can visit my blog at: www.lahilden.com
September 5, 2013
Gentlemen Club's of Regency England
Gentlemen Club’s were social gathering places for many men in Regency England. Unlike the clubs in the U.S. today, there were no exotic dancers. Women were not allowed. Men in Regency England often belonged to one or more of these establishments. Nevertheless, these clubs were more than just places to escape female society and partake in gaming and gossip. These clubs served as meeting places for business, political strife, or social climbing. Party leaders, artists, poets, publishers, barristers, and people with many common interests met in these places to speak “off the record” and to network with like-minded individuals of influence.
In my time travel, Destiny Series, the three lords purchased an old coffee house and refurbished it into The Back Room Gentlemen’s Club. Inside one of the club’s rooms, there lies a time portal. This portal brings travelers from past and future and drops them in the center of the men’s club in the early 19th century.
These establishments were luxurious with rich upholsteries, marble fireplaces, and thick carpets. The club was a place filled with gambling, gossip, and indulgent behavior. Where the food is top quality and the membership is exclusive.
The three most famous clubs of Regency England were White’s, Brook’s, and Boodle’s. The common denominator between these three clubs is the fact that they were the clubs that allowed gambling. All clubs had their own bylaws and rules on conduct and behavior, which had to be followed or you could lose membership and be permanently blackballed.
But like all establishments, these top three clubs were each known for certain clientele.
White’s is the oldest and most exclusive gentlemen’s club in London. The Italian immigrant, Francesco Bianco, originally established the club off of Curzon Street in Mayfair in 1693. It was called Mrs. White’s Chocolate House and they sold hot chocolate. The club began to sell tickets to events in town for the King’s Theatre and the Royal Theatre on Drury Lane. This selling of tickets led to the transformation of White’s to an exclusive club by 1736. In 1753, White’s relocated across the street after the original club burned down. White’s was moved to 37-38 St. James Street, and from 1783 it was known as the unofficial headquarters for the Tory party. Due to its growing popularity, a second club was formed called the Young Club, the two clubs merged in 1781.
The structure is built of Portland stone with a slate roof. Consisting of three stories, it is the Victorian version of the Palladian style, with French elements.
White’s was perceived as the intellectual leader and the most exclusive of the three. Although White’s was also considered by some to be the bane of the aristocracy, for many men lost more than they could afford to lose, bringing shame and poverty to their families. While, White’s catered to the Tory party, Brook’s catered to the Whig party. There were, however, some men that belonged to both clubs. Members were elected and voted upon by using a system of white and black balls secretly deposited into a special box at each election. A single black ball denied you membership, hence the term to be blackballed. The Prince of Wales once favored White’s until his friend Jack Payne was blackballed.
In many romance novels, I have read of White’s infamous bow window and the table that sits there. This window was added to the structure in 1811, and this privilege seat is mentioned in one of my novels. It was a table that could be seen by passer-byers and used by the club’s most socially influential. Beau Brummell was known to be a constant ornament to this special table until he moved to the continent to avoid debtor’s prison. Lord Alvanley took the honor after Brummell’s departure. I should also mention the infamous White’s betting book, where men bet on sports, political developments, and who’d beget the first heir between friends. Brook’s also had a betting book, and I’m sure other clubs recorded similar wagers.
The members of White’s deemed whist a dull game and gambled deeply in hazard, faro, and other games of chance.
Brook’s Gentlemen’s Club was founded in March 1764, by twenty-seven prominent Whig nobles. The clubhouse was built in yellow brick and Portland Stone in a Palladian style. The interior is neoclassical in design. It is located on St James Street, London, England and is one of the oldest gentlemen clubs in London.
Brook’s was known to have a political atmosphere, due to the young, founding members whose fathers’ were deeply entrenched in the Whig party. Through fatherly influence, these twenty-something year olds were indoctrinated in politics and the concept of liberalism from an early age. As you can imagine, hopeful Whig politicians began to flock to Brook’s, and within a few years it was an unofficial headquarters for the Whig party.
Due to the vastness of the founders’ wealth and influence, Brook’s gained a reputation for wild behavior and excessive gambling.
The Prince of Wales joined Brook’s so that he could talk to Charles James Fox and enlist his support in Parliament, which speaks of the clubs political influence.
Boodle’s was founded by Lord Shelburne, the future Marquis of Lansdowne and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in 1762 and located at 49-51 Pall Mall, London. The club was moved in 1782 to the clubhouse at 28 St. James Street, London, England. The club’s namesake is taken from the headwaiter that worked there named Edward Boodle.
Boodle’s is second to White’s as London’s oldest gentlemen’s club. This club was said to have been frequented by country squires and the fox hunting set. Heavy gambling took place at Boodle’s, but the club was not associated with a political party.
Other Regency Clubs
The Royal Society was known as a meeting place for scientists, engineers, explorers, botanists, and astronomers of their day. It was also frequented by soldiers, poets, bishops, musicians, and writers.
Alfred Club was said to attract men of letters and writers. Lord Byron was a member of this club to which he found it, “Literary, pleasant, and sober.” In 1811, the Alfred Club had 354 men on their waiting list.
Four Horse Club was known to cater to the young set who knew how to handle the ribbons of horses with expert skill and they tended to race around recklessly at high speeds. At its peak, the club only held 30-40 members.
Watier’s was founded by the Prince of Wales chef in 1807. The club was known for its fare and deep gambling, but closed in 1819. From what I’ve surmised, the closing was due to the high level of gambling.
A special thanks to Venetia Murray, An Elegant Madness
In my time travel, Destiny Series, the three lords purchased an old coffee house and refurbished it into The Back Room Gentlemen’s Club. Inside one of the club’s rooms, there lies a time portal. This portal brings travelers from past and future and drops them in the center of the men’s club in the early 19th century.
These establishments were luxurious with rich upholsteries, marble fireplaces, and thick carpets. The club was a place filled with gambling, gossip, and indulgent behavior. Where the food is top quality and the membership is exclusive.
The three most famous clubs of Regency England were White’s, Brook’s, and Boodle’s. The common denominator between these three clubs is the fact that they were the clubs that allowed gambling. All clubs had their own bylaws and rules on conduct and behavior, which had to be followed or you could lose membership and be permanently blackballed.
But like all establishments, these top three clubs were each known for certain clientele.
White’s is the oldest and most exclusive gentlemen’s club in London. The Italian immigrant, Francesco Bianco, originally established the club off of Curzon Street in Mayfair in 1693. It was called Mrs. White’s Chocolate House and they sold hot chocolate. The club began to sell tickets to events in town for the King’s Theatre and the Royal Theatre on Drury Lane. This selling of tickets led to the transformation of White’s to an exclusive club by 1736. In 1753, White’s relocated across the street after the original club burned down. White’s was moved to 37-38 St. James Street, and from 1783 it was known as the unofficial headquarters for the Tory party. Due to its growing popularity, a second club was formed called the Young Club, the two clubs merged in 1781.
The structure is built of Portland stone with a slate roof. Consisting of three stories, it is the Victorian version of the Palladian style, with French elements.
White’s was perceived as the intellectual leader and the most exclusive of the three. Although White’s was also considered by some to be the bane of the aristocracy, for many men lost more than they could afford to lose, bringing shame and poverty to their families. While, White’s catered to the Tory party, Brook’s catered to the Whig party. There were, however, some men that belonged to both clubs. Members were elected and voted upon by using a system of white and black balls secretly deposited into a special box at each election. A single black ball denied you membership, hence the term to be blackballed. The Prince of Wales once favored White’s until his friend Jack Payne was blackballed.
In many romance novels, I have read of White’s infamous bow window and the table that sits there. This window was added to the structure in 1811, and this privilege seat is mentioned in one of my novels. It was a table that could be seen by passer-byers and used by the club’s most socially influential. Beau Brummell was known to be a constant ornament to this special table until he moved to the continent to avoid debtor’s prison. Lord Alvanley took the honor after Brummell’s departure. I should also mention the infamous White’s betting book, where men bet on sports, political developments, and who’d beget the first heir between friends. Brook’s also had a betting book, and I’m sure other clubs recorded similar wagers.
The members of White’s deemed whist a dull game and gambled deeply in hazard, faro, and other games of chance.
Brook’s Gentlemen’s Club was founded in March 1764, by twenty-seven prominent Whig nobles. The clubhouse was built in yellow brick and Portland Stone in a Palladian style. The interior is neoclassical in design. It is located on St James Street, London, England and is one of the oldest gentlemen clubs in London.
Brook’s was known to have a political atmosphere, due to the young, founding members whose fathers’ were deeply entrenched in the Whig party. Through fatherly influence, these twenty-something year olds were indoctrinated in politics and the concept of liberalism from an early age. As you can imagine, hopeful Whig politicians began to flock to Brook’s, and within a few years it was an unofficial headquarters for the Whig party.
Due to the vastness of the founders’ wealth and influence, Brook’s gained a reputation for wild behavior and excessive gambling.
The Prince of Wales joined Brook’s so that he could talk to Charles James Fox and enlist his support in Parliament, which speaks of the clubs political influence.
Boodle’s was founded by Lord Shelburne, the future Marquis of Lansdowne and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in 1762 and located at 49-51 Pall Mall, London. The club was moved in 1782 to the clubhouse at 28 St. James Street, London, England. The club’s namesake is taken from the headwaiter that worked there named Edward Boodle.
Boodle’s is second to White’s as London’s oldest gentlemen’s club. This club was said to have been frequented by country squires and the fox hunting set. Heavy gambling took place at Boodle’s, but the club was not associated with a political party.
Other Regency Clubs
The Royal Society was known as a meeting place for scientists, engineers, explorers, botanists, and astronomers of their day. It was also frequented by soldiers, poets, bishops, musicians, and writers.
Alfred Club was said to attract men of letters and writers. Lord Byron was a member of this club to which he found it, “Literary, pleasant, and sober.” In 1811, the Alfred Club had 354 men on their waiting list.
Four Horse Club was known to cater to the young set who knew how to handle the ribbons of horses with expert skill and they tended to race around recklessly at high speeds. At its peak, the club only held 30-40 members.
Watier’s was founded by the Prince of Wales chef in 1807. The club was known for its fare and deep gambling, but closed in 1819. From what I’ve surmised, the closing was due to the high level of gambling.
A special thanks to Venetia Murray, An Elegant Madness
August 19, 2013
Drugs and Addiction in Regency England, Laudanum
Laudanum
I’m researching book one in my Wintergale Orchard series, titled When Love Wins. In this story, the hero is addicted to laudanum. Laudanum is an opium tincture made with 10% opium and 90% alcohol and then flavored with cinnamon or saffron. The tincture is reddish-brown in color and has a bitter taste. Laudanum is known as a “whole opium” since it historically contained all the opium alkaloids, this includes morphine and codeine. (A Swiss-German alchemist found that alkaloids are more soluble in alcohol than water.) Obviously this was a potent medicine.
Opium was known in ancient Mesopotamia five thousand years ago and its medicinal properties were recorded on cuneiform tablets. So opium has been here a while. (I shall keep this article focused on England’s usage of laudanum and save the East India Company, China, and the Opium Wars for other articles).
During the Regency Period, opium was used to aid mild pain. According to The Writer’s Guide to Everyday in the 1800’s by Marc McCutcheon, “In 1868, it is estimated that 100,000 people from all stations of life were addicted to the drug, which was sold openly in drugstores in pill form or as laudanum.”
Since laudanum was cheaper than beer or wine, it was affordable for even the lowest paid workers. Nevertheless, it was purchased by all classes in society. Laudanum was prescribed for many diseases as well as being used as a sleeping aid. Although the addictive qualities of opium were known at the time, it was still the ingredient added to most medicines of the day. This meant laudanum was prescribed for ailments from colds to meningitis to cardiac disease, in adults and children.
Due to laudanum’s potency, accidental or deliberate overdose could occur in a single dose (2-3 teaspoons). Suicide by laudanum was not uncommon in the mid-19th century. Side effects with laudanum are similar to those of morphine and include euphoria, dysphoria, sedation, respiratory depression, as well a psychological dependency, and the list goes on… People who became addicted to the tincture were often referred to as “Opium Eaters”. This was to differentiate themselves from the opium smokers. Thomas De Quincey wrote an autobiographical account of his laudanum addiction and its effect on his life in his book, Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, which was published in 1822.
In 1919 England, the production and export of opium was prohibited and a law in 1928 banned its use. Some notable laudanum users were John Keats, Charles Dickens, Lord Byron, Edgar Allen Poe, William Taylor Coleridge, and many more. The drug was seemingly popular as it was readily available. During the Victorian Period laudanum was even recommended for women to relieve menstrual cramps.
When looking at the old bottles of laudanum, I cannot help but wonder why anyone would wish to drink from a bottle that is clearly labeled poison with a skull and crossbones. But throughout history, human beings seem to have a compulsion to enhance their perceptions and alter their moods. Unfortunately, addictions can also ruin and cost lives.
Currently, laudanum is considered a Schedule II drug and recognized as an addictive substance. Its use is strictly regulated and controlled throughout most of the world. Laudanum is still prescribed in the US and the U.K. and is used to alleviate pain, treat diarrhea, and ease withdrawal symptoms from people addicted to heroin or other opiates. It should be mentioned that the laudanum of today differs from the laudanum of the 1800’s. Due to current drug processing, laudanum today is not a tincture of opium, but rather a tincture of morphine.
A special thank you to All About Heaven, http://www.allaboutheaven.org and The Heroin of the 19th Century, Frank Sanello
I’m researching book one in my Wintergale Orchard series, titled When Love Wins. In this story, the hero is addicted to laudanum. Laudanum is an opium tincture made with 10% opium and 90% alcohol and then flavored with cinnamon or saffron. The tincture is reddish-brown in color and has a bitter taste. Laudanum is known as a “whole opium” since it historically contained all the opium alkaloids, this includes morphine and codeine. (A Swiss-German alchemist found that alkaloids are more soluble in alcohol than water.) Obviously this was a potent medicine.
Opium was known in ancient Mesopotamia five thousand years ago and its medicinal properties were recorded on cuneiform tablets. So opium has been here a while. (I shall keep this article focused on England’s usage of laudanum and save the East India Company, China, and the Opium Wars for other articles).
During the Regency Period, opium was used to aid mild pain. According to The Writer’s Guide to Everyday in the 1800’s by Marc McCutcheon, “In 1868, it is estimated that 100,000 people from all stations of life were addicted to the drug, which was sold openly in drugstores in pill form or as laudanum.”
Since laudanum was cheaper than beer or wine, it was affordable for even the lowest paid workers. Nevertheless, it was purchased by all classes in society. Laudanum was prescribed for many diseases as well as being used as a sleeping aid. Although the addictive qualities of opium were known at the time, it was still the ingredient added to most medicines of the day. This meant laudanum was prescribed for ailments from colds to meningitis to cardiac disease, in adults and children.
Due to laudanum’s potency, accidental or deliberate overdose could occur in a single dose (2-3 teaspoons). Suicide by laudanum was not uncommon in the mid-19th century. Side effects with laudanum are similar to those of morphine and include euphoria, dysphoria, sedation, respiratory depression, as well a psychological dependency, and the list goes on… People who became addicted to the tincture were often referred to as “Opium Eaters”. This was to differentiate themselves from the opium smokers. Thomas De Quincey wrote an autobiographical account of his laudanum addiction and its effect on his life in his book, Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, which was published in 1822.
In 1919 England, the production and export of opium was prohibited and a law in 1928 banned its use. Some notable laudanum users were John Keats, Charles Dickens, Lord Byron, Edgar Allen Poe, William Taylor Coleridge, and many more. The drug was seemingly popular as it was readily available. During the Victorian Period laudanum was even recommended for women to relieve menstrual cramps.
When looking at the old bottles of laudanum, I cannot help but wonder why anyone would wish to drink from a bottle that is clearly labeled poison with a skull and crossbones. But throughout history, human beings seem to have a compulsion to enhance their perceptions and alter their moods. Unfortunately, addictions can also ruin and cost lives.
Currently, laudanum is considered a Schedule II drug and recognized as an addictive substance. Its use is strictly regulated and controlled throughout most of the world. Laudanum is still prescribed in the US and the U.K. and is used to alleviate pain, treat diarrhea, and ease withdrawal symptoms from people addicted to heroin or other opiates. It should be mentioned that the laudanum of today differs from the laudanum of the 1800’s. Due to current drug processing, laudanum today is not a tincture of opium, but rather a tincture of morphine.
A special thank you to All About Heaven, http://www.allaboutheaven.org and The Heroin of the 19th Century, Frank Sanello
June 10, 2013
Falconry
My favorite animal happens to be the hawk, although the falcon is a close second. Birds of prey fascinate me. I find myself stopping my car often to take pictures of hawks that I see in the wild. Hunting with raptors is believed to have been initiated in Mesopotamia as early as 2000 BC. Falconry is believed to have been introduced to Europe around 400 AD.
Falconry is an art that requires long hours, devotion, and skill. Training a bird to fly free, hunt for quarry, and return to captivity isn’t easy and there are texts dating back as far as the 12th century that cover the subject. Birds of prey were one of the most sophisticated and sought after means of hunting for food. (A European Goshawk can catch up to 20 game birds a day. Hares and pheasants are the game often taken by raptors.)
Falconry became a popular sport and a symbol of status among the nobles of Medieval Europe, the Middle East, and the Mongolian Empire. The reason falconry became a noble pursuit was due to the time commitment, money, and space needed to house the raptors. Falconry became a status symbol long after the practice fell out of favor. The richest nobles were expected to keep a full falconry, with different birds meant to hunt different kinds of prey.
In the 14th century, falconry was so widespread that inns provided perches for the birds of prey to sit, since some falconers did not wish to part from their raptors. A good falconer was hard to find and noble households likely partook in bidding wars to gain the best services. Henri VIII was known as an avid falconer and his falconry mews were claimed to be larger than his stables. Mary Queen of Scots had loved to fly merlins. Shakespeare also tended to like fitting falconry into his plays. Raptors were often given as gifts to kings. This gift was usually the Gyrfalcons, for they were the most costly.
According to The Boke of St. Albans’ in the 15th century, different raptors were assigned to people of different ranks in society. A person could not fly a bird of higher rank than them. The hierarchy seems to have evolved around the price of the raptors and it is not known if this list was strictly followed.
Emperor - Eagle or Vulture (FYI, vultures were not used in falconry and yet they are on this list, I assume this is because they are considered a bird of prey)
King- Gyrfalcon
Prince - Peregrine Falcon
Duke - Falcon of the Rock (another name for Peregrine)
Knight - Saker or Sakeret
Squire - Lanner or Lanneret
Lady - Merlin
Youngman - Hobby
Yeoman - Goshawk
Priest - Sparrowhawk
Holywater Clerk - Musket
Knave/ Servant - Kestrel
In England, falconry reached its peak in the 17th century, but loss favor in 18th and 19th centuries due to firearms becoming the weapon of choice. It was much easier to look after a gun than a raptor and the gun provided more food. Although the UK did see a rise of interest in falconry during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this was believed to be the result of a large number of falconry books published at the time.
In 1801, Joseph Strutt of England wrote, “the ladies not only accompanied the gentlemen in pursuit of the diversion (falconry), but often practiced it by themselves; and even excelled the men in knowledge and exercise of the art.” Seems the ladies of the Regency Period may have been bird whisperers. A lady’s bird of choice was usually the merlin, a small falcon.
Although, I’d love to own a hawk or a falcon, I’m happiest when I see them flying high above my head and when I have my camera in hand. Currently, there are an estimated 4,000 falconers in the US, with roughly 5,000 birds. Falconry, nowadays, refers to anyone who flies a bird of prey. The Harris Hawk is used often today, since this species flies in groups, allowing falconers to fly several at a time. Falconry is also known as hawking.
A special thank you to Joseph Strutt, Sports and Pastimes of the People of England.
Falconry is an art that requires long hours, devotion, and skill. Training a bird to fly free, hunt for quarry, and return to captivity isn’t easy and there are texts dating back as far as the 12th century that cover the subject. Birds of prey were one of the most sophisticated and sought after means of hunting for food. (A European Goshawk can catch up to 20 game birds a day. Hares and pheasants are the game often taken by raptors.)
Falconry became a popular sport and a symbol of status among the nobles of Medieval Europe, the Middle East, and the Mongolian Empire. The reason falconry became a noble pursuit was due to the time commitment, money, and space needed to house the raptors. Falconry became a status symbol long after the practice fell out of favor. The richest nobles were expected to keep a full falconry, with different birds meant to hunt different kinds of prey.
In the 14th century, falconry was so widespread that inns provided perches for the birds of prey to sit, since some falconers did not wish to part from their raptors. A good falconer was hard to find and noble households likely partook in bidding wars to gain the best services. Henri VIII was known as an avid falconer and his falconry mews were claimed to be larger than his stables. Mary Queen of Scots had loved to fly merlins. Shakespeare also tended to like fitting falconry into his plays. Raptors were often given as gifts to kings. This gift was usually the Gyrfalcons, for they were the most costly.
According to The Boke of St. Albans’ in the 15th century, different raptors were assigned to people of different ranks in society. A person could not fly a bird of higher rank than them. The hierarchy seems to have evolved around the price of the raptors and it is not known if this list was strictly followed.
Emperor - Eagle or Vulture (FYI, vultures were not used in falconry and yet they are on this list, I assume this is because they are considered a bird of prey)
King- Gyrfalcon
Prince - Peregrine Falcon
Duke - Falcon of the Rock (another name for Peregrine)
Knight - Saker or Sakeret
Squire - Lanner or Lanneret
Lady - Merlin
Youngman - Hobby
Yeoman - Goshawk
Priest - Sparrowhawk
Holywater Clerk - Musket
Knave/ Servant - Kestrel
In England, falconry reached its peak in the 17th century, but loss favor in 18th and 19th centuries due to firearms becoming the weapon of choice. It was much easier to look after a gun than a raptor and the gun provided more food. Although the UK did see a rise of interest in falconry during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this was believed to be the result of a large number of falconry books published at the time.
In 1801, Joseph Strutt of England wrote, “the ladies not only accompanied the gentlemen in pursuit of the diversion (falconry), but often practiced it by themselves; and even excelled the men in knowledge and exercise of the art.” Seems the ladies of the Regency Period may have been bird whisperers. A lady’s bird of choice was usually the merlin, a small falcon.
Although, I’d love to own a hawk or a falcon, I’m happiest when I see them flying high above my head and when I have my camera in hand. Currently, there are an estimated 4,000 falconers in the US, with roughly 5,000 birds. Falconry, nowadays, refers to anyone who flies a bird of prey. The Harris Hawk is used often today, since this species flies in groups, allowing falconers to fly several at a time. Falconry is also known as hawking.
A special thank you to Joseph Strutt, Sports and Pastimes of the People of England.
