Bloodletting was also popular in the young United States of America, where Benjamin Rush (a signatory of the Declaration of Independence) saw the state of the arteries as the key to disease, recommending levels of bloodletting that were high even for the time. George Washington asked to be bled heavily after he developed a throat infection from weather exposure. Within a ten-hour period, a total of 124–126 ounces (3.75 liters) of blood was withdrawn prior to his death from a throat infection in 1799.The Permanente Journal Volume 8 No. 2: The asphyxiating and exsanguinating death of president george washington , p. 79, Spring, 2004, retrieved on 11 November 2012 thumb|upright|Bloodsticks for use when bleeding animals One reason for the continued popularity of bloodletting (and purging) was that, while anatomical knowledge, surgical and diagnostic skills increased tremendously in Europe from the 17th century, the key to curing disease remained elusive, and the underlying belief was that it was better to give any treatment than nothing at all. The psychological benefit of bloodletting to the patient (a placebo effect) may sometimes have outweighed the physiological problems it caused. Bloodletting slowly lost favour during the 19th century, after French physician Dr. Pierre Louis conducted an experiment in which he studied the effect of bloodletting on pneumonia patients. A number of other ineffective or harmful treatments were available as placebos—mesmerism, various processes involving the new technology of electricity, many potions, tonics, and elixirs. Yet, bloodletting persisted during the 19th century partly because it was readily available to people of any socioeconomic status.
bloodletting was also popular in the young united states of america where benjamin rush (a signatory of the declaration of independence) saw the state of the arteries as the key to disease recommending levels of bloodletting that were high even for the time george washington asked to be bled heavily after he developed a throat infection from weather exposure within a ten-hour period a total of 124–126 ounces (375 liters) of blood was withdrawn prior to his death from a throat infection in 1799the permanente journal volume 8 no 2 the asphyxiating and exsanguinating death of president george washington  p 79 spring 2004 retrieved on 11 november 2012 thumb|upright|bloodsticks for use when bleeding animals one reason for the continued popularity of bloodletting (and purging) was that while anatomical knowledge surgical and diagnostic skills increased tremendously in europe from the 17th century the key to curing disease remained elusive and the underlying belief was that it was better to give any treatment than nothing at all the psychological benefit of bloodletting to the patient (a placebo effect) may sometimes have outweighed the physiological problems it caused bloodletting slowly lost favour during the 19th century after french physician dr pierre louis conducted an experiment in which he studied the effect of bloodletting on pneumonia patients a number of other ineffective or harmful treatments were available as placebos—mesmerism various processes involving the new technology of electricity many potions tonics and elixirs yet bloodletting persisted during the 19th century partly because it was readily available to people of any socioeconomic status