Boston Corbett

The grandly named Boston Corbett, born 1832, was a hatter in New York and consequently mad. The chemicals used in the process of making a hat included mercury and other baddies; the fumes from these compounds often effected the hatter’s mental stability. As a 26 year old he castrated himself with a pair of scissors in the hope that it would help him avoid the temptation of prostitutes. Yup, he neutered himself to subdue his sexual urges. That should do it.

What adds extra intrigue to the story is that before seeking medical attention for his self inflicted wound, he went to prayers and sat down for a spot of dinner. Not that I ever would, but if I did cut my own nads off, I reckon I’d be down casualty pretty smartish. I also predict that my appetite may have been substantially curbed by the raw and unerring pain. After a military career Boston went on to kill the assassin of Abraham Lincoln – John Wilkes Booth. What a strange life story.

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