How did it feel to be an American colonist in 1776? Probably itchy, achy and slightly nauseated

The medical tools of the Revolutionary period help flesh out the picture of what physical well-being felt like for people living in the American colonies 250 years ago.

By: Katherine Ott, Smithsonian Institution, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 2, 2026

Words: 1,343

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 6 days ago

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By Katherine Ott, Smithsonian Institution

Trade the tricorn hats, bonnets and homespun shirts for flip flops, sneakers and soccer jerseys, and the intrepid revolutionaries of 1776 would have looked a lot like the people of 2026. But their sense of embodiment and experience of health was markedly different from Americans today.

It goes deeper than not having aspirin, toothpaste or air conditioning, or not knowing about germs and penicillin. What was happening in their gut and …

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