Here you see a physical manifestation of the phrase “bite the bullet.” These two lead bullets came from a hospital serving soldiers wounded in the U.S. Civil War’s famous Battle of Gettysburg (July 1863). In an age preceding anesthetics, patients were told to bite down on these so-called “Hospital” or “Pain Bullets” before surgery was performed. If the wounded were lucky, they might also get numbed with alcohol. Look closely, and you can see the teethmarks where patients chomped down. (National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA.)
