28 Photos Show Us How 'Strange' Medical Practice of the Past Used To Be

By | August 3, 2016

Back in the 1800s, the human body was still largely a mystery. Modern medicine was just starting to take shape, but compared to what we know today, doctors at the time were remarkably uninformed, which led to some very strange medical practices to say the least.

1) Masks worn by doctors during the Plague. The beaks held scented substances.
Medical-Photos-1

2) Children in an iron lung before the advent of the polio vaccination. Many children lived for months in these machines, though not all survived. c. 1937
Medical-Photos-2

3) Corset damage to a ribcage. 19th century London
Medical-Photos-3

4) Dr. Kilmer’s Female Remedy
Medical-Photos-4

5) Tanning babies at the Chicago Orphan Asylum, 1925, to offset winter rickets
Medical-Photos-5

6) Woman with an artificial leg, c. 1890-1900
Medical-Photos-6

7) Wooden prosthetic hand, c. 1800
Medical-Photos-7

8) Early plastic surgery. Selection of some items used to disguise facial injuries.
Medical-Photos-8

9) Blood transfusion bottle, England 1978
Medical-Photos-9

10) Dr. Clark’s Spinal Apparatus advertisement, 1878
Medical-Photos-10

11) Neurological exam with electrical device, c. 1884
Medical-Photos-11

12) Antique prosthetic leg
Medical-Photos-12

13) US Civil War surgeon’s kit
Medical-Photos-13

14) “Walter Reed physiotherapy store” 1920’s
Medical-Photos-14

15) Boy in rolling “invalid cart” c. 1915
Medical-Photos-15

16) Obstetric phantom, Italy 1700-1800. Tool to teach medical students and midwives about childbirth
Medical-Photos-16

17) Radioactive yummies
Medical-Photos-17

18) Lewis Sayre’s scoliosis treatment
Medical-Photos-18

19) Claude Becks early defibulator
Medical-Photos-19

20) Antique birthing chair used until the 1800s
Medical-Photos-20

21) Knives for surgery, China, 1801-1920.
Medical-Photos-21

22) Anatomical Model. Doctors were not allowed to touch the women’s bodies, so they would point to describe pain locations
Medical-Photos-22

23) Radiology nurse technician, WWI France 1918
Medical-Photos-23

24) 1855-1860. One of first surgical procedures using ether as an anesthetic
Medical-Photos-24

25) Rush Medical College lecture auditorium, 1900, Chicago
Medical-Photos-25

26) Treatments for insanity
Medical-Photos-26

27) Leonid Rogozov, the only surgeon on an Antarctic expedition, performing surgery on himself after suffering from appendicitis. April 30, 1961
Medical-Photos-27

28) Edward Mordrake
Medical-Photos-28

H/T ebaums