28 Terrifying Medical Devices From Medicine's Brutal Beginnings

Mr_Incognito Published 08/15/2023 in creepy

As time marches on, everything around us changes. Technology, infrastructure, travel, and of course, medicine. It's crazy when you look back at what was considered some of the most groundbreaking and top-of-the-line treatments available in days of old. Especially since by today's standards most of them seem like medieval torture devices more so than medicine.

So get ready to let your mind wander and be in awe (as well as disbelief) as we explore a collection of creepy historical practices, devices, and photos in the practice of medicine.

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1.
Masks worn by doctors during the Plague. The beaks held scented substances to mask the scent of death and dying.
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
3.
Corset damage to a ribcage. 19th century London
4.
Dr. Kilmer's Female Remedy
5.
Tanning babies at the Chicago Orphan Asylum, 1925, to offset winter rickets
6.
Woman with an artificial leg, too embarrassed to show her face c. 1890-1900
7.
Wooden prosthetic hand, c. 1800
8.
Blood transfusion bottle, England 1978
9.
Dr. Clark's Spinal Apparatus advertisement, 1878
10.
Neurological exam with electrical device, c. 1884
11.
Antique prosthetic leg
12.
"Walter Reed physiotherapy store" 1920's
13.
US Civil War surgeon's kit
14.
Boy in rolling "invalid cart" c. 1915
15.
Obstetric phantom, Italy 1700-1800. Tool to teach medical students and midwives about childbirth
16.
Radioactive yummies
17.
Claude Becks early defibulator
18.
Antique birthing chair used until the 1800s
19.
Knives for surgery, China, 1801-1920.
20.
Anatomical Model. Doctors were not allowed to touch the women's bodies, so they would point to describe pain locations
21.
Radiology nurse technician, WWI France 1918
22.
1855-1860. One of first surgical procedures using ether as an anesthetic
23.
Rush Medical College lecture auditorium, 1900, Chicago
24.
Lewis Sayre's scoliosis treatment
25.
26.
Leonid Rogozov, the only surgeon on an Antarctic expedition, performing surgery on himself after suffering from appendicitis. April 30, 1961
27.

1.
Masks worn by doctors during the Plague. The beaks held scented substances to mask the scent of death and dying.
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
3.
Corset damage to a ribcage. 19th century London
4.
Dr. Kilmer's Female Remedy
5.
Tanning babies at the Chicago Orphan Asylum, 1925, to offset winter rickets
6.
Woman with an artificial leg, too embarrassed to show her face c. 1890-1900
7.
Wooden prosthetic hand, c. 1800
8.
Blood transfusion bottle, England 1978
9.
Dr. Clark's Spinal Apparatus advertisement, 1878
10.
Neurological exam with electrical device, c. 1884
11.
Antique prosthetic leg
12.
"Walter Reed physiotherapy store" 1920's
13.
US Civil War surgeon's kit
14.
Boy in rolling "invalid cart" c. 1915
15.
Obstetric phantom, Italy 1700-1800. Tool to teach medical students and midwives about childbirth
16.
Radioactive yummies
17.
Claude Becks early defibulator
18.
Antique birthing chair used until the 1800s
19.
Knives for surgery, China, 1801-1920.
20.
Anatomical Model. Doctors were not allowed to touch the women's bodies, so they would point to describe pain locations
21.
Radiology nurse technician, WWI France 1918
22.
1855-1860. One of first surgical procedures using ether as an anesthetic
23.
Rush Medical College lecture auditorium, 1900, Chicago
24.
Lewis Sayre's scoliosis treatment
25.
26.
Leonid Rogozov, the only surgeon on an Antarctic expedition, performing surgery on himself after suffering from appendicitis. April 30, 1961
27.