When you think of dangerous jobs from the past, you might imagine soldiers or plague doctors. But did you know that making hats in the 1500s was also risky? Back then, hats were a big deal, especially for men who wanted to show off their status. By the 17th century, hat making became a big business, and people started using all sorts of materials to make them.
One popular method involved using a chemical called mercuric nitrate to treat felt and fur. This made the hats look great, but it was discovered by accident when a French hat maker, who was being treated for an illness with mercury, used his own urine to help separate animal fur from its skin. Unfortunately, working with mercury was dangerous. It could cause serious health problems, like affecting the nervous system and making people shaky and anxious. This is where the saying “mad as a hatter” comes from.
By the late 1800s, people realized how harmful mercury was, and laws were made to protect workers. In the U.S., safer methods were developed, and by 1941, hat makers switched to using hydrogen peroxide instead of mercury. As time went on, hats became less important as status symbols, and the hat-making industry declined.
Another tough job from history was being a gong farmer, also known as a nightman. These workers collected and disposed of human waste before modern plumbing existed. The word “gong” comes from an old English word meaning “to go,” and this job started during the Tudor period.
Gong farmers worked at night, emptying cesspits and cesspools to keep communities clean and prevent disease. It was a dirty and dangerous job, with risks of infection and suffocation. Despite the unpleasantness, it paid well because it was so important for public health. As sanitation improved in the 19th century, the need for gong farmers decreased with the development of underground sewer systems.
Toshatorches, or sewer hunters, had the risky job of searching through sewers for valuable items like coins. This job was dangerous because of collapsing tunnels, poisonous gases, and rats. Toshators worked in groups for safety and used special tools to explore the sewers.
After 1840, it became illegal to enter the London sewers without permission, so toshators worked at night to avoid getting caught. Despite the risks, they made a decent living and considered themselves better than other scavengers.
Chimney sweeps cleaned chimneys to prevent fires, a job that became more common in the 18th century as cities grew. Master sweeps often hired young boys, called climbing boys, because they were small enough to fit into narrow chimneys. Sadly, some of these boys were kidnapped or sold into the job.
The work was tough and dangerous, with risks of suffocation and lung damage from soot. In 1840, laws were passed to stop children under 21 from climbing chimneys, and more rules in 1875 aimed to end the use of child chimney sweeps altogether.
In the early 1800s, leeches were used in medicine for bloodletting, and the demand for them was high. Leeches were collected by wading into bogs and marshes, where they would attach to the collector’s legs. This job was usually done by poor women and was risky because of blood loss and infection.
Leech collecting didn’t pay well and could only be done in warmer months. The job declined as bloodletting fell out of favor and leech populations decreased due to over-collection.
The groom of the stool was a trusted position in Tudor times, responsible for helping the king with personal tasks. This included helping him dress, assisting with bathroom needs, and keeping an eye on his diet. Although it sounds unpleasant, the job was prestigious and well-paid, giving the groom significant influence and access to the king.
Over time, the role changed and eventually disappeared under Queen Elizabeth I, but it was brought back later. The groom of the stool shows how trust and power could be found in even the most unappealing jobs in royal service.
Imagine you are living in the past and have one of the jobs mentioned in the article. Create a short presentation to convince your classmates why your job is important and what skills are needed. Use props or costumes to make your presentation more engaging. This will help you understand the significance and challenges of these historical jobs.
Explore the science behind the hat-making process by conducting a safe experiment with household items. Compare how different substances can change the properties of materials, similar to how mercury was used in hat making. This activity will help you learn about chemical reactions and their effects.
Write a diary entry from the perspective of one of the workers discussed in the article. Describe a day in their life, the challenges they face, and their thoughts about their job. This will help you empathize with people from the past and improve your creative writing skills.
Create a poster advertising one of the historical jobs. Use drawings, colors, and catchy slogans to highlight the job’s importance and the skills required. This activity will help you understand the historical context and develop your artistic skills.
Participate in a debate about how jobs have evolved over time and the impact of technology and laws on working conditions. Discuss whether these historical jobs could exist today and how they might be different. This will enhance your critical thinking and public speaking abilities.
**Dangerous Jobs in History**
**Hat Maker**
When you think of dangerous jobs in history, you might think of soldiers or plague doctors, but hat making in the 1500s was surprisingly hazardous. The term “milliner” referred to traders who specialized in importing women’s accessories from Milan, as hats became a popular status symbol for men around the 14th century. By the 17th century, mass production of these fashion items became necessary to meet the growing demands of Western society.
Being a milliner became a lucrative business, and the variety of materials used led to experimentation in style and production. It was discovered that moistening the fibers of felt and fur with mercuric nitrate created a superior material that could be produced quickly. This method was supposedly discovered by a French milliner being treated for syphilis with mercury, who used his own urine to separate animal fur from its skin.
By the 19th century, it was common practice to use this mercury compound in manufacturing, a process known as carroting. While it made matting and removing fur easier, long-term exposure to the vapors could lead to serious health conditions, such as erytheism, which affects the nervous system. Symptoms included emotional instability, social anxiety, and motor function deterioration, leading to severe tremors and drooling, often mistaken for drunkenness.
The term “mad as a hatter” is believed to have originated from the association between milliners and the symptoms of mercury poisoning. By the end of the 19th century, the dangers of mercury poisoning were studied, and by 1874, alternatives were developed. Laws were enacted in England and France to protect workers in hat manufacturing, but mercury poisoning continued to affect milliners into the 20th century.
In the U.S., an alternative method using hydrochloride was developed, but mercury was still used until World War II, when the demand for mercury in explosives forced manufacturers to adopt safer processes. By 1941, U.S. milliners agreed to use hydrogen peroxide instead of mercuric nitrate. As new technologies emerged, the craft of millinery began to decline, and hats lost their status as symbols of wealth.
**Gong Farmer**
Another dangerous and disgusting job was that of the gong farmer, or nightman, who collected and disposed of human waste before modern plumbing. This profession was essential for maintaining sanitation in communities. The term “gong” comes from the old English word “gang,” meaning to go, and the job began during the Tudor period.
Gong farmers worked in the dark, collecting waste from cesspits and cesspools, which were crucial for preventing disease. They often worked in teams, with one person filling a bucket with waste while others assisted in transporting it. The job was unpleasant and hazardous, with risks of infection and asphyxiation.
Despite the unpleasantness, gong farming was well-paid, but it was still considered a miserable trade. Poorly maintained cesspits could overflow, contaminating water supplies, making the gong farmer vital for community health. As sanitation practices improved in the 19th century, the profession began to decline with the advent of underground sewer systems.
**Toshatorches (Sewer Hunters)**
Toshatorches, or sewer hunters, ventured into filthy sewers to find valuable items like coins. The job was dangerous due to the risk of collapsing tunnels, suffocation from noxious fumes, and attacks from rats. Toshators often worked in groups for safety and used various tools to navigate the sewers.
After 1840, it became illegal to enter the London sewers without permission, leading to toshators working at night to avoid detection. Despite the dangers, they considered themselves above other scavengers, earning a decent living.
**Chimney Sweep**
Chimney sweeps were responsible for cleaning chimneys to prevent fires. The job became more common in the 18th century due to urbanization. Master sweeps often employed young boys, known as climbing boys, who were small enough to fit into narrow chimneys. These boys were sometimes kidnapped or sold into the profession.
The job was physically demanding and dangerous, with risks of suffocation and long-term lung damage from soot exposure. In 1840, laws were passed to prevent children under 21 from climbing chimneys, and further regulations in 1875 aimed to end the use of child chimney sweeps.
**Leech Collector**
Leeches were used in medicine for bloodletting, and during the early 1800s, the demand for leeches surged. Leeches were collected by wading into bogs and marshes, where they would latch onto the collector’s legs. This job was typically done by poor women and posed risks of severe blood loss and infection.
Leech collecting was not well-paid and could only be done in warmer months. The profession declined as the demand for bloodletting decreased and leech populations dwindled due to over-collection.
**Groom of the Stool**
The groom of the stool was a position of trust in Tudor times, responsible for attending to the king’s personal needs. This role involved undressing the king, assisting with toileting, and monitoring his diet. Although the job was unpleasant, it was prestigious and well-paid, granting the groom significant power and access to the king.
The position evolved over time, eventually becoming obsolete under Queen Elizabeth I, but was revived later. The groom of the stool exemplified the intersection of trust, power, and the often-unpleasant realities of royal service.
Jobs – Tasks or duties that people do to earn money or contribute to society. – In the 1800s, many people had jobs as factory workers, which were important for the growing industries.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Learning about the history of ancient civilizations helps us understand how modern societies developed.
Health – The state of being free from illness or injury. – Maintaining good health was challenging in the past due to limited medical knowledge and resources.
Mercury – A heavy, silvery metal that is liquid at room temperature and was historically used in thermometers and medicine. – In the 19th century, mercury was often used in medicine, but it was later found to be toxic to human health.
Sanitation – Measures taken to protect public health by preventing disease and maintaining cleanliness. – Improved sanitation in cities during the 19th century helped reduce the spread of infectious diseases.
Disease – A disorder or malfunction in the body that affects health. – The spread of disease in crowded urban areas was a major concern during the Industrial Revolution.
Infection – The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues, causing illness. – Before the discovery of antibiotics, an infection from a simple cut could be life-threatening.
Leeches – Bloodsucking worms that were historically used in medicine to draw blood from patients. – Doctors in medieval times often used leeches to treat various ailments, believing it would balance the body’s humors.
Chimney – A structure that provides ventilation for smoke or gases from a fireplace, furnace, or stove. – During the Industrial Revolution, chimneys were a common sight in cities, as factories relied on coal for power.
Collectors – People who gather or accumulate items of interest, often for study or enjoyment. – In the 19th century, collectors of natural specimens contributed to the growing field of scientific research.
