What is one of the roles of barber surgeons in history?

Barber surgeons played a significant role in the history of medicine, particularly during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. One of their primary responsibilities was conducting bloodletting, a common medical practice of the time believed to balance the body's humors. This practice involved the withdrawal of blood from a patient to treat various ailments and was thought to alleviate diseases. Barber surgeons were skilled in both practical procedures and grooming services, which allowed them to provide a unique blend of services, including minor surgical procedures, alongside traditional barbering tasks such as cutting hair.

While hair styling, cosmetic advice, and pedicure services are associated with barbers, these were not the primary roles of barber surgeons historically. Their dual expertise in both grooming and rudimentary surgical procedures, including bloodletting, distinguished them in the healthcare landscape of their time.