Monday, November 07, 2011

Sarah Mapp the Cross-eyed, Very Fat, and Hideously Ugly Bonesetter

Mrs. Sarah (Wallin) Mapp by Cruickshank probably taken from Hogarth's caricature. (via BibliOdyssey)


Sarah Mapp, born in 1706, followed in her father's footsteps and became a bonesetter in Epsom. By 1734 she was famous as one of the "three great quacks of England". Ballads were written about her and the town of Epsom paid her a 100 pounds per year retention fee. She commuted once or twice to her satellite office in London, traveling in a coach drawn by four horses.
Sarah was labelled an "ignorant, illiberal, drunken female savage",  a description I find appealing. Although she died penniless she led an interesting life for a woman in those times. 

Read more about her at Shrine of Dreams

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