At the Sign of the Barbers Pole | Page 8

of the Prophet Ezekiel (v. 1) allusions to
the Jewish custom of the barber shaving the head as a sign of mourning.
In the remote past the art of surgery and the trade of barber were
combined. It is clear that in all parts of the civilised world, in bygone
times, the barber acted as a kind of surgeon, or, to state his position
more precisely, he practised phlebotomy, the dressing of wounds, etc.
Their shops were general in Greece about 420 B.C., and then, as now,
were celebrated as places where the gossips met. Barbers settled in
Rome from Sicily in B.C. 299.
The clergy up to about the twelfth century had the care of men's bodies
as well as their souls, and practised surgery and medicine. Barbers
gained much experience from the monks, whom they assisted in
surgical operations. The practice of surgery involved the shedding of
blood, and it was felt that this was incompatible with the functions of
the clergy. After much consideration and discussion, in 1163, the
Council of Tours, under Pope Alexander III., forbade the clergy to act
as surgeons, but they were permitted to dispense medicine.
The Edict of Tours must have given satisfaction to the barbers, and
they were not slow to avail themselves of the opportunities the change
afforded them. In London, and it is to be feared in other places, the
barbers advertised their blood-letting in a most objectionable manner. It
was customary to put blood in their windows to attract the attention of
the public. An ordinance was passed in 1307 directing the barbers in
London to have the blood "privately carried into the Thames under the
pain of paying two shillings to the use of the Sheriffs."

At an early period in London the barbers were banded together, and a
gild was formed. In the first instance it seems that the chief object was
the bringing together of the members at religious observances. They
attended the funerals and obits of deceased members and their wives.
Eventually it was transformed into a semi-social and religious gild, and
subsequently became a trade gild. In 1308 Richard le Barber, the first
master of the Barbers' Company, was sworn at the Guildhall, London.
As time progressed the London Company of Barbers increased in
importance. In the first year of the reign of Edward IV. (1462) the
barbers were incorporated by a Royal Charter, and it was confirmed by
succeeding monarchs.
A change of title occurred in 1540, and it was then named the Company
of Barber-Surgeons. Holbein painted a picture of Henry VIII. and the
Barber-Surgeons. The painting is still preserved, and may be seen at the
Barber-Surgeons' Hall, Monkwell Street, London. Pepys pronounces
this "not a pleasant though a good picture." It is the largest and last
work of Holbein.
The date assigned for its commencement was 1541, and it was
completed after the death of the artist in 1543. It is painted on vertical
oak boards, 5 ft. 11 in. high, and 10 ft. 2 in. long. It has been slightly
altered since it was delivered to the Barber-Surgeons. The figures
represent notable men belonging to the company and leaders of the
healing art of the period at which it was painted.
[Illustration: Henry VIII. receiving the Barber-Surgeons.]
In the reign of Henry VIII., not a few disputes occurred between the
barbers and the surgeons. The following enactment was in force: "No
person using any shaving or barbery in London shall occupy any
surgery, letting of blood, or other matter, except of drawing teeth."
Laws were made, but they could not, or at all events were not, enforced.
The barbers acted often as surgeons, and the surgeons increased their
income by the use of the razor and shears. At this period, however,
vigorous attempts were made to confine each to his legitimate work.
The Rev. J.L. Saywell has a note on bleeding in his "History and

Annals of Northallerton" (1885). "Towards the early part of the
nineteenth century," observes Mr Saywell, "a singular custom prevailed
in the town and neighbourhood of Northallerton (Yorkshire). In the
spring of the year nearly all the robust male adults, and occasionally
females, repaired to a surgeon to be bled--a process which they
considered essentially conduced to vigorous health." The charge for
this operation was one shilling.
Parliament was petitioned, in 1542, praying that surgeons might be
exempt from bearing arms and serving on juries, and thus be enabled
without hindrance to attend to their professional duties. The request
was granted, and to the present time medical men enjoy the privileges
granted so long ago.
In 1745, the surgeons and the barbers were separated by Act of
Parliament. The barber-surgeons lingered for a long time, the last in
London, named Middleditch, of Great Suffolk Street, Southwark, only