3 ms·

A weird case of having too much money (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_United_States_by_net_worth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_

A weird case of having too much money (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_United_States_by_net_worth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_Unit...) since cutting edge medicine he could afford at that time would be quackery today? The blistering agents applied in his throat and externally seem pretty painful, one today on my hand or foot is quite a hassle, on top of the bloodletting weakening a person. The 40% blood on his deathbed sounds incredible in hindsight but there are a few people who regularly give blood today as often as is permitted every couple of months without apparent ill effects.

avar 8y ago
An adult male has around 5 liters of blood, when you donate blood they're withdrawing at most around 500 ml, so 10%. There's a huge difference in the health effects of losing 10% and 40% of your blood.
leetcrew 8y ago
it might not be as painful as it sounds. i lost a large amount of blood once (to the point of browning out), and it basically feels like being really, really drunk. you don't really understand what's happening and you're pretty numb to things like pain.
- exolymph 8y ago
  That sounds kinda nice!
chasil 8y ago
You're right that he had too much money. After reading this, my sympathy is tempered. https://www.amazon.com/Never-Caught-Washingtons-Relentless-Pursuit/dp/1501126393 https://www.amazon.com/Never-Caught-Washingtons-Relentless-P... Washington had hundreds of slaves, yet he sent his family and political allies repeatedly against the single escapee, Ona Judge in Portsmouth, NH. The governor of New Hampshire surely regretted his involvement of his daughter. That was quite a story. It bothers me about him. I think of the three-fifths compromise (which most people around me are astonished to grasp), and the lives of the founders make me cringe.
- stevenwoo 8y ago
  Yes, I was angry when I learned about that in junior high or high school and the teachers usually wave that off with something like it was common back then, but there were plenty of others who did not have slaves.

avar 8y ago

An adult male has around 5 liters of blood, when you donate blood they're withdrawing at most around 500 ml, so 10%. There's a huge difference in the health effects of losing 10% and 40% of your blood.

leetcrew 8y ago

it might not be as painful as it sounds. i lost a large amount of blood once (to the point of browning out), and it basically feels like being really, really drunk. you don't really understand what's happening and you're pretty numb to things like pain.

exolymph 8y ago
That sounds kinda nice!

chasil 8y ago

You're right that he had too much money. After reading this, my sympathy is tempered. https://www.amazon.com/Never-Caught-Washingtons-Relentless-Pursuit/dp/1501126393 https://www.amazon.com/Never-Caught-Washingtons-Relentless-P... Washington had hundreds of slaves, yet he sent his family and political allies repeatedly against the single escapee, Ona Judge in Portsmouth, NH. The governor of New Hampshire surely regretted his involvement of his daughter. That was quite a story. It bothers me about him. I think of the three-fifths compromise (which most people around me are astonished to grasp), and the lives of the founders make me cringe.

stevenwoo 8y ago
Yes, I was angry when I learned about that in junior high or high school and the teachers usually wave that off with something like it was common back then, but there were plenty of others who did not have slaves.