George Washington, the first US president known as the Father of the Country, died in 1799. Doctors treated his throat infection with heavy bloodletting that weakened him fatally. Historians have known these details for centuries, yet they rarely cause shock or reach popular culture.

George Washington fell ill with a severe throat infection in December 1799. At his Mount Vernon home, three doctors gathered to help. They believed in the common practice of bloodletting to remove bad humors from the body. Over the course of one day, they drained nearly half of his blood through cuts and leeches.

This treatment left the 67-year-old leader weak and unable to fight the infection. Washington asked his doctors to stop, but they continued with other remedies like mercury and blistering. He passed away that evening. Modern views see this as a clear case of medical error driven by the limited knowledge of the era.

The story appears in history books but seldom surprises readers today. It highlights how even great leaders faced risks from accepted medical treatments. Popular tales focus on his leadership instead of this tragic end, keeping the grim facts out of common knowledge.

Original Author: Jeffrey A. Tucker | Source: Brownstone Institute