4 unbelievably bizarre medical practices from the past

From the ancient Greeks to the time of Abraham Lincoln, medical practices from the past probably did more harm than good. Real physicians practicing real medicine, as well as scientists and dreamers often had twisted thinking and performed gut-wrenching procedures; here are some crazy historical medical practices you were never taught about in school:

Benjamin Rush – Benjamin Rush was America’s best known and most trusted doctor. However, in his practice Dr. Rush doused his patients with cold water in the winter, gave them “artificial diarrhea” and even twirled patients from ropes suspended from the ceiling. He also invented the “tranquilizer chair”, which was later used all over the world. This invention restrained a patient’s hands and feet and covered their head with a wooden box. He believed that pain and suffering was able to cure illnesses and disease. So, he starved, beat and poured acid on his patients.

John Hunter – England’s greatest surgeon never have up his career as a grave robber, and he demanded he have 7’8” giant, Charles O’Brien’s bones when he died. Unfortunately Charles refused and made plans to be buried at sea in a lead basket. When Charles finally dropped dead, Hunter’s henchmen bribed the undertaker, grabbed the body and threw It into a big pot. Today, Charles O’Brien’s bones are displayed proudly at the Hunterian Museum.

King Charles II – When King Charles woke up feeling sick on 2 February 1685, a number of bizarre and downright crazy medical practices were performed. His physician immediately withdrew sixteen ounces of blood and Charles was then made to swallow a toxic metal and given a series of enemas. To drive the bad humours downward his head was shaven and blistering agents were applied to his scalp. For days Charles was tormented by physicians until finally he lapsed into a coma and died on February 6, 1685.

Dr. Walter Freeman – In the 1950’s Dr. Walter Freeman became the world’s best known brain surgeon. Freeman was not trained in surgery and didn’t believe in wearing gloves and working in a germ-free environment. He practiced at home with an ice pick and a grapefruit and soon unveiled the trans-orbital lobotomy. Three of Freeman’s patients died, although he still did lobotomies at nearby hospitals and send his patients postcards.

These real medical practices through the ages are just a brief history of what your teacher never taught you at school!

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