The Poor Historians: Medical History Misadventures

Dr. Joseph Lister revolutionized the practice of medicine.  He used the scientific method to make medicine and surgery safer.  Set against a backdrop of Victorian-era surgical practice, as grim as th…

Every so often we let Mike choose topics without supervision.  This episode is an example of this.  We started with an examination of a famous case of early colorectal surgery and found ourselves in …

This episode reveals how long mental health care has come over the centuries.  Part asylum, part zoo, Bedlam Hospitals history is a fascinating story about a famous institution  carrying a name that …

In this episode we'll discuss the various uses of mercury--yes, the liquidy metal that your parents told you not to touch--as a medicine.  It was used for colic in babies as well as to treat syphilis…

Her name is synonymous with excellence in nursing for good reason.  Here we'll talk about one of the most famous nurses ever to take up the charge of giving good practical advice to doctors who did t…

The feature of this episode is a remarkable survival story, one which occured within the past 30 years.  The other side of this coin is a discussion of the awful origins of much of the research on hy…

Marie Curie and her husband discovered radium and radioactivity in 1898.   Soon thereafter everything has radium in it, from beauty products to glow in the dark timepieces.  Who would have thought th…

There have certainly been many things tried over the ages in the name of medicine.  At some point, there was a person who thought, "Have we considered putting all these corpses to use?"  Believe it o…

You might not think a potentially life threatening childhood disease, sled dogs, early vaccination research, and emergency neck surgery have anything in common, but you'd be wrong.  Diphtheria is a l…

We'll keep the drawn out "Arrrr's " to a minimum.  Let's take a look at pirates and medicine.    Quite surprisingly they had some progressive ideas when it came to taking care of the ill.  We'll talk…

Though certainly an accomplished physician for the time, the unexpected end to Dr. James' Barry's story is well worth the listen.  Once you know what the unexpected detail about Dr. Barry is, it make…

Sure there are many old hospitals.  But none are as old as the Hotel Dieu in Paris.   We'll look at the history of this landmark and the many trials and tribulations the hospital, and it's medical st…

The origin of this familiar outdoor enthusiast tool has a dark and complicated history as a medical instrument.   You might not imagine how this device came about.  Well now you don't have to wonder …

In this episode, we visit a few cases of physician involvement in the practice of dueling.  Why have a collegial argument when you can grab a few friends and some weapons? 

Special thanks to historia…

The lobotomy was a procedure that is rightfully associated with a dark period in more modern medical history.   Even the best of intentions can have disastrous outcomes.

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Because sometimes you gotta put a lotta holes in heads to figure out when it's beneficial.  What's more exciting than old tyme neurosurgical trial and error?

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If you want something done right, they say to do it yourself.  This is not typically recommended for surgical procedures but when you're stranded in the hostile climate at the bottom of the world, a …

Let's explore the seedy side of one of the most important courses in medical school and medical history for that matter.  Who would have imagined body theft had such a dark backstory?  Probably every…

We'll take a little trip into the world of medical toxicology history.  Back to an age before marriage counseling and divorce, some would go to extreme lengths to end a marriage.  Their solution?  A …

An intrepid hematologist endeavors to bother the unusually hued blue persons of Kentucky.  And then maybe he murdered somebody.  What?

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