Humphry Davy Nearly Died Laughing Surgery in the 18th Century was a brutal affair. Often the last resort treatment for severe wounds, surgery was undertaken in the 18th century only when death was likely as the act often resulted in infection and death anyway. What was needed, beyond an understanding of germ theory and clean …
Continue reading “Doctor Heal Thyself — 18th Century Medicine Gone Wrong”
We applaud George Washington for his decision to end his presidency after two terms. The peaceful transition of power is the hallmark of American History and with only one exception, every president has chosen to follow Washington’s lead. George Washington helped unify the new nation and was a leading force behind the ratification of the …
At the confluence of the Harlem and East Rivers is a narrow tidal channel – the Hell Gate. On the map, this looks like an ideal waterway between the Long Island Sound and Manhattan but Its fast currents change multiple times a day and it used to be riddled with rocks just beneath the surface …
Continue reading “National Treasure — Lost Gold at the Bottom of the Hell’s Gate”
Isaac Newton Stuck a Needle in His Own Eye Isaac Newton voluntarily stuck a needle in his eye in the name of science. The experiment was designed to test optics and color perception. He thought that if he slid a long needle behind his eyeball, between the eye and the eye socket, and started poking, his vision would …
Continue reading “Doctor Heal Thyself — 18th Century Medicine Gone Wrong”
In 1791, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was working on his requiem mass when he fell seriously ill. From his deathbed, Mozart declared, “I feel definitely that I will not last much longer; I am sure that I have been poisoned.” He went on to claim, “Someone has given me acqua tofana and calculated the precise time of my death.” Mozart …
Toasting is an ancient tradition which connotes celebration and good times. Today toasting remains an important practice in many cultures around the world. But why do we call it a toast? How exactly does the word “toast,” as in dry bread, figure into festive drinking? Well, it turns out dunking literal pieces of toast into …
Continue reading “Why is it called “giving a toast?” — Where’s the bread?”
People come up to me constantly with this question: “How did you learn to brew?” The short answer – at home – is trivial. The question I want answer is “why did I learn to brew/distill/make wine?” Even though I was born decades after its repeal, I learned to brew as a direct result of …
Continue reading “Why did I learn to make beer, wine, and distilled spirits?”
Okay, I have been on a 21st Amendment stream today and this is clearly NOT an 18thg Century topic but it is germane to the Regimental Brewmeister because after the MAGA folks have outlawed abortion and reading, their next targets will be marijuana and alcohol. So, toughen up your self-publishing, weed growing, and brewing skills …
Continue reading “There has always been a loophole for the elite.”
The United States originally had no permanent capital city under the Articles of Confederation. Even when the US Constitution was ratified, it included no mention of a national capitol. Congress met in eight different cities including New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore before 1791. In 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act, establishing the permanent seat of …
Okay, I get it. Making a toast is a challenge. You must stand in front of the crowd, think on your feet and come up with something witty. It is fun but scary. Then there is the fact that some people choose not to drink – do we leave them out: of course not! But …
Continue reading “Be careful what you wish for: Toasting Superstitions”
Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 