Józef Juraszek Ślopek

Who is Józef Juraszek Ślopek?

Józef Juraszek Ślopek lived in Jeleśnia. He was a pioneer in setting broken, sprained and dislocated bones of both people and animals.

When he was 20 years old he was obliged to join the Austrian Army. At the time Poland was partitioned between Prussia, Russia and Austria, and the area where Jozef lived was occupied by Austria. He did not wish to serve with the occupying army. To avoid having to serve, he put his ring-finger on tree trunk and with one swing of the axe he cut it off clean. He then wrapped his wound with bread mixed with spider cobwebs. In accordance with the rules of the Imperial Austrian army he didn’t have to join the army because he had a missing finger. In a portrait of him that hangs in the Muzeum Etnograficzne w Krakowie Ethnographic Museum in Krakow, the cut-off finger is clearly evident.

He lived by certain principles. He led a hygienic life. He was never allowed to be woken up even if a patient was waiting. He never drank any liquor and because of that he never attended weddings because there was always a temptation.

When a patient was brought to him he listened as to how the accident happened. He would then examine the wound and then skilfully set the bones in their proper location. He even operated on a patient with a broken spine. He told his helpers to hold the patient by his hands, legs and head and then to stretch him as tight as a string, and then he even took of his shoes and used his feet in the procedure.