It is estimated that 250,000 weight-loss operations take place each year in the United States.
Banded Bellies: Exploring Bariatric Surgery
Posted by in Modern Tag: Health
Posted by in Modern The Ilizarov Method: Limb-Lengthening Surgery
Posted by in Modern, Object Focus The bone is stretched a small amount each day until the desired height is reached, then the bone is allowed to fuse back together.
Electric Hair Brushes and Magnetic Cure-Alls
Posted by in Individuals, Object Focus, Quackery George Scott was an English businessman who had no formal medical training whatsoever, yet he made a killing off of several “medical” devices he had invented for home use.
A “Healthy” Glow- A Brief History of Sunless Tanning
Posted by in Modern Some people are simply set on achieving that perfect tan-but at what cost?
Becoming Blue: The Effects of an Overexposure to Silver
Posted by in Individuals, Modern Although argyria is not thought to be fatal, it does have severe cosmetic impacts that can affect a person emotionally and socially.
The Faces of the Dead: Crafting Death Masks
Posted by in Horror, Modern, Object Focus, Victorians Death masks have the ability to ease death-related anxieties because the people who have already crossed into the eternal unknown look as though they are blissfully slumbering.
Dolphin Sonar and Baby Brain Development
Posted by in Quackery The sonar of the dolphin is thought to reach the baby in utero and stimulate enhanced brain activity
Gladiator Blood: A Tonic of Life
The Romans believed that the blood of the young men slain violently in the gladiatorial games had the ability to cure diseases such as epilepsy.
Chainsaw Babies and symphysiotomies
Posted by in Horror, Object Focus During the late 18th century, the chainsaw was utilized by doctors during complicated childbirths.
Deadly Nightshade and Doe-Eyed Beauties
Posted by in Horror, Quackery, Victorians Victorian ladies found themselves using eye drops containing a rather poisonous ingredient.
Lili’s Right to Life: The Birth of Lili Elbe
Posted by in Individuals, Mental Health, Modern Lili Elbe, born as Einar Wegener, became one of the first people to undergo experimental gender reassignment surgery
The Red Market: Illegal Organ Trafficking
Although science has reached far beyond the capabilities of our wildest imaginations, it is still not yet possible for laboratories to perfectly replicate the intricate inner workings of our bodies, forcing us to rely on human donors for the gift of life.
The Colorado Brown Stain: Fluorosis
Posted by in Individuals, Modern Let’s talk about how the brown stains on the teeth of Colorado Springs residents helped reform cavity prevention.
Performing a Cesarean Section on His Own Wife: Dr. Jesse Bennett
Posted by in Horror, Individuals Historically, most c-sections were performed for one main purpose, to save the baby. Mothers were expected to die from shock or complications resulting from infection.
The wound That Took 50 Years to Kill Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Posted by in Individuals, Series Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, the infamous college professor turned war hero, helped advance catheterization methods after he was wounded at Petersburg in 1864.
Serving Wounded Blue and Grey: Pavilion Hospitals in the Civil War
Posted by in Series No one was prepared for the kind of chaos that the war would bring. Medical professionals everywhere were quickly overwhelmed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Antiquated Antidotes 