Curious Medicine

Nose Jobs

Warning, a portion of this episode deals with sexual assault in ancient times. THIS EPISODE IS NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN.
Rhinoplasty dates as far back as 600 BC.
While surgical techniques are discussed in this episode, much of this one details the many fascinating and unexpected reasons a person might need rhinoplasty across time.

Trepanation

Take a listen as Christi and Brian discuss trepanation, the oldest surgical procedure known to man which dates back to 10,000 BC!
Topics discussed include: indications such as headaches, trauma, infections, epilepsy and creating a portal for spirits; incomplete trepanations; ancient apprenticeships; techniques and necessary tools of the trade.
Hosts also discuss the modern-day act of self-trepanning.

Patent Medicines

This episode is about patent medicines and the heyday of these non-prescription drug sales in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Topics discussed include: correlation between sickness and spirituality; how Americans ruined snake oil; the unbelievable addictive ingredients contained within; nostrum sellers; the awkward yet effective ways of advertising; how women, the lack of trust in doctors and urban living contributed to increasing popularity of these drugs; and the evolution of drug laws.
Christi and Brian also talk about their favorite examples of patent medicines.

Physicians' Fees

In this episode, Christi and Brian discuss physician compensation across time.
Topics discussed include: Code of Hammurabi; how a person’s social standing determined a physician’s fees; sliding fee scales; penalties for bad outcomes; the early days of referrals and consultations; physician price fixing in the 19th century; financial disclosures of doctors from the 19th century; and the steady decline of physicians’ wealth.

House Calls

Before hospitals were prevalent (and even after they were), doctors typically attended to patients in their homes.
Topics discussed include: enhanced doctor – patient relationships; hardships and limitations on doctors making house calls; benefits to patients; typical contents in a doctor’s bag; and the economics of house calls.

Mercury

Mercury. Not the planet. Not the car. This episode is about the element!
Topics discussed include: use of mercury in medicine; effects of exposure to mercury; Mad Hatter’s disease; monkey blood; and syphilis.

Barber Surgeons

Join Christi and Brian as they sit down for a chat about the evolution of barbers and barber shops across history since ancient times.
Topics discussed include: how barbers turned into barber surgeons; how and why grooming services and medical services united; how barber surgeons rose to become the most common European medical practitioner of the Middle Ages; and how the creation of hospitals affected the demand for barber surgeons.
They also describe some of the procedures commonly performed and the symbolism of barber poles.