Historical Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 44

[cahn]

Not only are these posts still going, there is now (more) original research going on in them deciphering and translating letters in archives that apparently no one has bothered to look at before?? (Which has now conclusively exonerated Fritz's valet/chamberlain Fredersdorf from the charge that he was dismissed because of financial irregularities and died shortly thereafter "ashamed of his lost honor," as Wikipedia would have it. I'M JUST SAYING.)

Comments

Re: Royal souvenirs

[cahn]

(If this story is true, it's possible the majority of umbilical cords ended up getting used medicinally in recipes like the one I found cited from one 17th century source: powder the dried umbilical cord in wine and drink it.

This abruptly reminded me that when my second child was born, the doula I had for that birth asked me if I wanted the placenta saved so I could eat it.

Me: ????

Apparently this -- well, placenta, but I assume that includes the umbilical cord? -- is a thing people still sometimes do! Or at least did in 2015. (I did not.)

Re: Royal souvenirs

[mildred_of_midgard]

I was aware it was a practice that had survived surprisingly late, I've encountered it in a few places, but I don't think I realized it was still alive and well in 2015!

I wouldn't be surprised if enough pregnant mothers were historically so malnourished that this was actually a good idea. There has to be some iron or something in there, and there were probably times of year, with seasonal eating, that they might have been short on iron (or had blood loss from the childbirth, etc.)

I am less convinced about the virtues of umbilical cords in wine. ;)

well, placenta, but I assume that includes the umbilical cord?

I'm not sure. I suspect historically it was "mother eats the placenta; umbilical cord is dried and saved in case baby gets sick," but since there's probably less reliance on umbilical cords as medicine in 2015 even among placenta-eaters (lol, the things I write in salon), maybe it gets eaten too now, idk!

P.S. Apparently in the 17th century, midwives had to swear not to hang on to the umbilical cord or placenta, as they could be used in witchcraft. (Remember also the unbaptized babies' souls, which could also be summoned by witches.)