I FEEL FAINT. YES! YES!

HAHAHAHAHAH!

Sorry for my fit of hysteria–laughing fit that is…

But I came upon a juicy historical tidbit…

While researching the history of ‘swoon’ .

Seems swooning…

Was a common occurrence in the nineteen century...

Which often led to female hysteria.

This from Wikipedia:

“Female hysteria The second most common theory

for the predominance of fainting couches is the home

treatment of female hysteria through manual pelvic

massage by home visiting doctors and midwives.

As a ‘disease’ that needed constant, recurring

(usually weekly) in-home treatment with a procedure

that, through manual massage, could sometimes take

hours, the need for specialized furniture for maximum

comfort during the extended procedure arose.

Later, the creation of fainting rooms for privacy 
during the intimate massage procedure were built.”

HAHAHAHAHAH!

Oh, you genteel ladies of the nineteen century…

You had it going ON!

And those doctors! What a scam!
I can imagine a scenario something like this:

A husband leaving for work leans down to kiss his wife…

“What are your plans for the day, my dear?”

“The doctor is coming over.”

“Again?”

“How dare you question my pelvic massages!”

“Settle down I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“You’re always doubting my disease! Waaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“No don’t faint! OK, OK! I’ll call the doctor now.”

Wow, what a scam.

So while the women didn’t have voting rights back then…

They did have ‘fainting couches’!

And…

Husbands that went along with the scam!

HAHAHAHAHAHAH!

And I can imagine another scenario….

Guests arrive for a party at this couple’s house.

“Please, come in and have a seat,” the hosts say.

The couple looks around at the seating options..

But the only place left is the ‘fainting couch’.

“Uh, no thanks,” the pastor and his wife say, 
“We’ll stand.”

HAHAHAHAHAH! 
So?
Isn't history fun? 
What fun stuff have you ever discovered?

Always, Em-Musing