20 Questions
What did English people use to cure their warts in ancient times?
Blended remains of dead mice
What was used as a weight-loss method in the early 20th century?
Tapeworms
What was the Patron Saint of Hemorrhoids in medieval times?
Saint Fiacre
What was used as a curative for various injuries in Victorian times?
Animal waste
What was used as a herbal anesthetic made from seven ingredients, some of which are harmless, but others are incredibly lethal?
Dwale
What was human urine used for in the Roman era and up to the 15th century?
As a curative treatment and antiseptic
What belief about urine's sterility is contradicted by scientific evidence?
It is believed to be sterile
What negative connotations did snake oil gain over time?
It became a slang term for 'con men'
What did Romans use urine for despite it being ineffective today?
Whiten their teeth
What property does snake oil contain despite its negative connotations?
Anti-inflammatory properties
Match the historical use of human urine or snake oil with their actual scientific properties:
Human urine as an antiseptic and treatment for battle wounds = Not a reliable antiseptic and not scientifically proven Human urine for whitening teeth = Not effective or scientifically proven today Snake oil in traditional Chinese medicine for joint pain relief = Contains anti-inflammatory properties due to EPA and omega-3 fatty acid content Snake oil gaining negative connotations = Became a slang term for 'con men'
Match the historical use of human urine or snake oil with their modern understanding:
Use of human urine as an antiseptic and treatment for battle wounds = Not a reliable antiseptic and not scientifically proven Use of human urine for whitening teeth = Not effective or scientifically proven today Use of snake oil in traditional Chinese medicine for joint pain relief = Contains anti-inflammatory properties due to EPA and omega-3 fatty acid content Negative connotations gained by snake oil = Became a slang term for 'con men'
Match the historical beliefs about human urine with their modern scientific evidence:
Belief in the sterility of human urine = Contradicted by scientific evidence Belief in the effectiveness of human urine as an antiseptic and treatment for battle wounds = Contradicted by scientific evidence Belief in the effectiveness of human urine for whitening teeth = Not effective or scientifically proven today Belief in the use of snake oil as a cure-all remedy = Gained negative connotations
Match the historical uses of human urine with their modern evaluations:
Historical use of human urine as an antiseptic and treatment for battle wounds = Not a reliable antiseptic and not scientifically proven Historical use of human urine for whitening teeth = Not effective or scientifically proven today Historical use of snake oil in traditional Chinese medicine for joint pain relief = Contains anti-inflammatory properties due to EPA and omega-3 fatty acid content Negative connotations gained by snake oil over time = Became a slang term for 'con men'
Match the historical uses of human urine or snake oil with their actual properties according to modern scientific understanding:
Historical use of human urine as an antiseptic and treatment for battle wounds = Not a reliable antiseptic and not scientifically proven Historical use of human urine for whitening teeth = Not effective or scientifically proven today Historical use of snake oil in traditional Chinese medicine for joint pain relief = Contains anti-inflammatory properties due to EPA and omega-3 fatty acid content Negative connotations gained by snake oil over time = Became a slang term for 'con men'
Match the historical medical treatment with its associated negative consequences:
Lobotomy = Dangerous and left patients with permanent disabilities Tapeworm weight-loss method = Horrific effects on the human body and can cause malnutrition, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and anemia Paraffin wax injections = Resulted in painful lumps called paraffinomas Mercury medical treatment = Extremely toxic and caused more harm than good
Match the ancient medical practice with its intended use:
Expired mice = Treatment for whooping cough, smallpox, measles, and bedwetting Cutting mice in half for warts = Curing warts Animal waste = Curative for various injuries Radium in medicines = Used for various questionable medicines due to its ability to glow in the dark
Match the historical medical belief/practice with its associated consequence:
Using dead mice for tooth pain = Blending their remains with other compounds Using star charts for diagnoses and treatments = Reliance on astrological superstitions as much as medical knowledge Using enemas with boar's bile = Performed using a device called a clyster Using dwale herbal anesthetic = Made from seven ingredients, some of which are incredibly lethal
Match the historical medical belief/practice with its associated consequence:
Saint Fiacre's rock for hemorrhoids = Cured by the monks using a red hot iron or sitting on Saint Fiacre's famous rock Smoking cigarettes as therapy for asthma = Before the dangers of smoking were well known Urinary medicinal purposes in Ancient Egypt = Used poo from various animals for medicinal purposes Roman use of urine despite its ineffectiveness today = Used as a curative for various injuries
Match the historical medical treatment with its associated consequence:
Intentional malaria infection for syphilis patients = Resulted in intense fever attacks and long-term side effects Paraffin wax injections = Used to smooth out wrinkles and augment breasts Radium in medicines = Highly radioactive and can lead to a painful demise Ancient Egyptian use of tapeworms as weight-loss method = Most tapeworm species have horrific effects on the human body
Study Notes
- Ancient Egyptians used dead mice to ease tooth pain by blending their remains with other compounds
- English people cured their warts by cutting a mouse in half and applying it to the growths
- Expired mice were used to treat various diseases such as whooping cough, smallpox, measles, and bedwetting
- In the 1500s, syphilis patients were intentionally infected with malaria to cure their disease, but this treatment resulted in intense fever attacks and long-term side effects
- Saint Fiacre was the Patron Saint of Hemorrhoids and those who did not pray to him were believed to suffer from hemorrhoids, and those who did were cured by the monks using a red hot iron or sitting on Saint Fiacre's famous rock
- In the 19th century, paraffin wax injections were used to smooth out wrinkles and to augment breasts, but they often resulted in painful lumps called paraffinomas
- Mercury was used as a medical treatment from ancient times to fairly recently due to its mysterious and cool appearance, but it is extremely toxic and caused more harm than good
- Radium was used in various questionable medicines due to its ability to glow in the dark, but it is highly radioactive and can lead to a painful demise
- Lobotomy was a popular treatment for mental illness in the 1930s, but it was dangerous and left patients with permanent disabilities, and approximately 50,000 people were lobotomized in the US without their consent
- Tapeworms were used as a weight-loss method in the early 20th century, but most tapeworm species have horrific effects on the human body and can cause malnutrition, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and anemia
- Before the dangers of smoking were well known, cigarettes were advertised as having health benefits and even as a therapy for asthma
- Animal waste was used as a curative for various injuries in Victorian times and the Ancient Egyptians used poo from various animals for medicinal purposes
- In medieval times, doctors relied on astrological superstitions as much as medical knowledge and used star charts to aid in diagnoses and treatments
- Enemas have been a popular treatment for intestinal issues since the Middle Ages and were performed using a device called a clyster, and various fluids were used, including one made from boar's bile
- Modern anesthesia has only been common practice for the last 150 years and before that, doctors used a range of methods to induce sleep before an operation, one of which was dwale, an herbal anesthetic made from seven ingredients, some of which are harmless, but others are incredibly lethal.- Human urine was used for various medical purposes from the Roman era up to the 15th century.
- It was used as a curative treatment and antiseptic, even recommended for washing battle wounds and treating plague sores.
- Romans used it to whiten their teeth, however, this is not a common belief today.
- Urine is believed to be sterile, but scientific evidence proves otherwise.
- Snake oil, derived from the Chinese water snake, was used in traditional Chinese medicine to relieve joint pain from arthritis and bursitis.
- It gained negative connotations and became a slang term for "con men," but it does contain anti-inflammatory properties due to its EPA and omega-3 fatty acid content.
- Romans used urine to whiten their teeth, but it is not effective or scientifically proven today.
- Urine is not sterile as commonly believed and is not a reliable antiseptic.
- Snake oil, despite its negative connotations, contains anti-inflammatory properties and was used in traditional Chinese medicine for joint pain relief.
Explore the bizarre and often dangerous historical medical treatments practiced throughout different time periods and cultures. From using dead mice and animal waste to radioactive substances and questionable surgical procedures, learn about the strange remedies and practices of the past.
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