You may be surprised to discover that the 18th and 19th centuries had a rather barbaric approach to treating a stutter.
Doctor Got Your Tongue?: Quack Stutter Cure
Posted by in Quackery Posted by in Quackery A mouse with an Ear Growing on His Back?!
Posted by in Modern Rodents have assisted with everything from drug research to diseases and scientists, with the help of these four-legged creatures, have expanded the potential of medicine far beyond what we once thought was possible. Take for example, earmouse.
Evaluating Head Shapes: The Rise and Fall of Phrenology
Posted by in Mental Health, Quackery Despite the fact that Phrenology became rather controversial, it is important to note the cultural impact it did have in the years of its popularity throughout both Europe and America.
Medical Mishaps: Retained Surgical Items
Even with modern counting methods and technologies used to keep track of tools, retained surgical items (RSI) are a unique surgical complication that still occurs, although rarely, to this day.
Balanced Healing: Native American Medicine
Posted by in Modern Native American medicine represents a harmonious mixture of physical remedies and spirituality which, when used in conjunction, were thought to develop a well-balanced method of healing. Although customs varied across nations, Native American medicine took much of it’s influence from the natural world and has had a lasting impact on the field of modern medicine.
The Ugly Impact of Paraffin Wax
Paraffin wax was commonly used in breast augmentations, as a wrinkle filler, and for nose jobs. Unfortunately, the people who got paraffin wax injections were often left with much more to worry about than the shape of their noses.
Smoking Cigarettes: An Outdated Remedy for Asthma?
Nowadays we are well aware of the dangers involved with smoking. Despite this, cigarettes were once recommended by medical professionals as valid treatments for a variety of complications…including asthma.
The Mystery of the Salem Witch Trials: How a Fungus May be to Blame for the Strange Occurrences
Posted by in Horror Almost everyone has heard of the Salem witch trials. Could these events have been caused by moldy cereal grains?
“Living Babies in Incubators”: A Lifesaving Sideshow Attraction
Posted by in Individuals, Modern Baby incubators have been able to save hundreds of thousands of young lives. The story of how incubators went from being used in zoos…to sideshows… and finally in hospitals is as fascinating and mind-boggling as it sounds.
Christmas Disease: The Little Boy whose Blood Would Not Clot
Posted by in Individuals, Modern Christmas disease, also known as hemophilia B is a rare genetic disorder that prevents blood from clotting properly. Learn more about the first boy to be diagnosed with Hemophilia B.
An Army of Ant Sutures
Posted by in Quackery Creeped out by insects? Then you may want to skip this one! We will discuss how ants can be used to stitch wounds shut!
“Can Anyone Hear Me!?”: The Terrifying Reality of Premature Burial
Posted by in Horror Being buried alive is a fate worse than death, and in a time before medical science developed sophisticated methods for testing if someone was actually dead, premature burial was a common occurrence.
Blowing Smoke: The Popularity of the Tobacco Enema
Posted by in Quackery In the 18th century a common practice in resuscitation was to blow tobacco smoke up the unconscious individual’s rear end.
Joseph Merrick: “The Elephant Man”
Posted by in Individuals In this post we will talk about what elephantiasis is and how it is treated today. We will also look at the life of Joseph Merrick, one of the most famous individuals who struggled with the disease in the 19th century.
From Hearse to Hospital: Funeral Homes and Emergency Transportation Services
Posted by in Modern Ambulances did not always look like the ones we see today, large rectangular vehicles with flashing sirens. As with most things, the ambulance changed little by little over the course of many years. Perhaps one of the strangest facts about the history of emergency transportation services was that funeral homes use to be the primary…Read more »
A Box of Blades: What is a Scarificator?
Posted by in Object Focus What is a Scarificator? Bloodletting remains to be one of the oldest and far-reaching medical practices of all time. Before the development of the spring-loaded scarificator, veins in a patient’s arms and neck were cut into. The procedure as a whole was extremely slow and painful (patients probably didn’t smile like paintings would lead you…Read more »
Let ‘er Rip: The Clockwork Saw
Posted by in Object Focus, Quackery The clockwork saw is a fascinating, yet little-known invention that never made it past the prototype phase. Developed by WHB Winchester (1816-1901), the clockwork saw was a hand-wound amputation device. The surgeon would crank the handle tight and then let go, causing the blade to spin rapidly. Unfortunately for everyone involved, the saw was not…Read more »
Cow Pox Pustules and Vaccines
Posted by in Individuals, Modern Vaccines have been able to save countless lives from viruses that were once capable of wiping out entire cities. The idea of immunization has been around for hundred of years, but it did not begin being used on a large scale until the end of the 16th century. For example, Monks were known to drink…Read more »
Toothy Tumors: What are Teratomas?
Posted by in Object Focus Did you ever think that a tumor could contain hair, bone, and teeth? Well, a special kind of tumor known as teratoma can, and their appearance can be nightmare-inducing. “Teratos” is the Greek word for “monster,” so teratomas are essentially monster tumors (McRae). Despite the name, teratomas are usually benign and easy to treat once…Read more »
Insanity Washed Down the Drain: How Water was Used in Mental Hospitals
Posted by in Mental Health, Quackery (Image of a patient in a bath being spoon-fed by an on-duty nurse. Photo credit: Lensvid) Water has played a prominent role in religion for centuries and is referenced in the bible many times. It is no wonder that people once depended on water as a healing agent. In the middle ages there were…Read more »
Antiquated Antidotes 