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: history
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.
The Cries of the Unheard: Forced Nazi Sterilization
Posted by in Horror, Individuals, Modern The Nazi Party subscribed itself to pseudoscientific ideas regarding genetics in order to push their racial ideologies to the brink of extremism.
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.
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
Angel of the Battlefield: Clara Barton
Posted by in Individuals, Victorians Clara Barton’s story shows that the impact of a compassionate woman can not only change lives, but save them.
The Putrefied Whale Cure
This since abandoned “cure” involved taking a long soak, but their experience was nothing like a trip to the spa. In fact, I imagine the whole ordeal was rather hot, foul-smelling, and gut-churning.
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.
The Infamous Dead Body Roadside Attraction
An unidentified man was found dead in a ditch in Sabina, Ohio in the early 1900s. His body would go on to be embalmed and laid out on public display for 40 years in the hopes of uncovering his true identity.
The Unlucky Pustule: Small Pox Inoculations and Syphillis
Posted by in Horror, Quackery, Victorians Despite some unexpected side-effects, the overall success of vaccinations throught the war led to more widespread acceptance of inoculation by the general public in the following years.
The Thomas Splint
Posted by in Modern, Object Focus The Thomas splint revolutionized emergency medicine during World War I. This device diminished the mortality rate of femoral fractures from 80% to 20%.
Romantic Lachrymatory Bottles or Hoax?
Posted by in Object Focus, Victorians 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.
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
Posted by in Individuals, Modern 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
Posted by in Series 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
Posted by in Horror, Individuals 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.
Antiquated Antidotes 