The Medical Stuff Used in the Past Will Give You the Willies

By | June 14, 2016

US Civil War Surgeon’s kit.
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Walter Reed Physiotherapy Store, 1920s
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Obstetric Phantom, Italy, 1700 - 1800. Tool to teach medical students and midwives about childbirth.
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Radithor, the radioactive cure-all. It was produced by a company run by Dr. William J.A. Bailey, a college dropout who was actually not a doctor and, according to the Wall Street Journal, the medicine poisoned a wealthy American socialite and athlete who was fine until “his jaw came off.”
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Claude Beck’s early defibrillator.
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Antique birthing chair used until the 1800s.
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Anatomical model. Doctors were not allowed to touch the women’s bodies, so they would point to describe pain locations.
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Masks worn by doctors during the plague. The beaks held scented substances.
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Dr. Kilmer’s Female Remedy. Today, of course, modern medicine knows there is no remedy.
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Wooden prosthetic hand, c. 1800
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Early plastic surgery. Selection of some items used to disguise facial injuries.
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And here are some photos of medical students posing with cadavers…
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