Trace the history of barbersurgeons, and find out what led to barbers performing medical procedures in medieval Europe.



It’s a cold morning in 15th century France and you’re off to the barber for a shave and haircut. You hear the familiar sound of singing inside and eye a bowl of blood in the window. You grab a cup of ale and examine the array of teeth strung from the walls. Suddenly, a scream sounds from one of the chairs. What's going on? Stephanie Honchell Smith shares the surprising history of barbersurgeons.

Lesson by Stephanie Honchell Smith, directed by Arvind Singh Jeena, Anantha Krishnan, Totem Creative.

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