The most interesting thing about the myth of tear catchers is that it is totally believable considering that mourning was an outward artistic social expression to the Victorians.
Tag: history
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.
Surgery Without Anesthesia: Babies Can’t Feel Pain?
Prior to the 1980s, many medical professionals believed that babies could not feel pain, therefore, medical procedures performed on infants took place without the use of anesthesia.
The Colorado Brown Stain: Fluorosis
Let’s talk about how the brown stains on the teeth of Colorado Springs residents helped reform cavity prevention.
Dedication of the National Cemetery in Gettysburg, November 19, 1863
Even though the events that gave Gettysburg its fame occurred 158 years ago, the loss remains poignant and the message of sacrifice and liberty still heard.
Excavating Bladder Stones with Knitting Needles
The Lithotomy was described as far back as the 1st century A.D. by Greek physicians. The procedure only required three main tools, the knife, a hook, and a pair of forceps.
Spectacles of the Real: Public Morgues
Morgues or mortuaries are used today as storage sites for our corpses, keeping them as fresh as possible until disposal. Less commonly known though is the origins behind the word. The word comes from the French word, morguer, which means “to stare”.
Judging a Book by its Cover: Anthropodermic Bibliopegy
Quite a few medical books exist that are bound in human skin. This makes sense since doctors would have had regular access to skin from deceased patients.
The Aftermath of a Mistake: Wrong-Site Surgery
Wrong-site, wrong-procedure, wrong-patient surgical mishaps, although infrequent, do still occur in the 21st century.
Killer Wallpaper: A Green to Die For
The Victorians did not shy away from bright colors and patterns in their homes, and they were certainly unaware that some of those home design choices could cost them their lives.
Losing Their Left Legs: The Walker Brothers of North Carolina
What is the likelihood that two brothers would be forced to undergo amputation of their left legs in the same spot just a few weeks apart from one another?
The wound That Took 50 Years to Kill Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, the infamous college professor turned war hero, helped advance catheterization methods after he was wounded at Petersburg in 1864.
Remembering Jonathan Letterman
Dr. Letterman’s story, despite his importance to the field of military medicine, has been largely, forgotten. I hope that this post changes that.
The Devil with a Cyanide Syringe
Petiot was arrested in 1944 and admitted to killing at least 60 people.
A Spoonful of Starvation: Linda Burfield Hazzard
Like most people, I would have a terribly hard time giving up tasty foods and replacing them with a soup-based fasting routine. I was always taught that healthy foods fuel the body and keep everything running properly. In today’s post I will be putting the spotlight on Mrs. Linda Burfield Hazzard, a woman who gained…Read more »
Cancer Quackery at the Crescent Hotel
Come with us as we explore the curious history of the notorious Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Evaluating Head Shapes: The Rise and Fall of Phrenology
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.
Balanced Healing: Native American Medicine
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.