Death by Frying Pan

[Waterloo50]

Two medical euphemisms from the 1800s. I'll let you work them out.
1) Amorous congress
2)dipsomania...often of a paroxysmal character

This short paragraph really explains why euphemisms came about, it was really to save embarrassment.

After the Civil War, Bache, the son of Union Gen. George Meade, overheard another woman ask a hotel waiter to bring her a chicken's trotter (i.e., a leg). An English visitor to America at this time was puzzled when asked by a woman at a dinner table if he'd please give her "the first and second joint of a chicken" (leg again). Polite guests at American tables knew that asking a poultry-serving hostess for white meat instead of "breast meat," dark meat instead of a "thigh,"and a drumstick in place of a "leg" saved embarrassment all around. -

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

Two medical euphemisms from the 1800s. I'll let you work them out.
1) Amorous congress
2)dipsomania...often of a paroxysmal character

This short paragraph really explains why euphemisms came about, it was really to save embarrassment.

After the Civil War, Bache, the son of Union Gen. George Meade, overheard another woman ask a hotel waiter to bring her a chicken's trotter (i.e., a leg). An English visitor to America at this time was puzzled when asked by a woman at a dinner table if he'd please give her "the first and second joint of a chicken" (leg again). Polite guests at American tables knew that asking a poultry-serving hostess for white meat instead of "breast meat," dark meat instead of a "thigh,"and a drumstick in place of a "leg" saved embarrassment all around. -

Knew those two instantly, but didn't know about the leg, dark meat thing. I'm off to go have vapors and wave my fan now after reading such embarrassing words!