Incredible Lies and Mistakes in the History of Medicine

In the past, medical knowledge and research methods were much more limited than today. scientistshad limitations in understanding the causes and treatments of diseases. For this reason, some suggestions and practices were compatible with the knowledge and understanding of that period.

Better understanding of the functioning of the human body, discovery of previously unknown risks and side effects, health awareness awareness formation and patient feedback helped improve medical practices. In addition, clearly revealing big data and statistical analysis, supporting or criticizing doctor’s recommendations It also brought access to powerful data.

During all this time, scientists Many facts have been revealed. Even though we say “get out of there” when we hear it now, many people did what the doctors said at the time. Let’s see what mistakes scientists have made us in the past.

Smoking was once doctor-approved.

We don’t know if some of you remember, but smoking used to be ““It is not harmful to health.” they would say. On the contrary, it was doctor-approved and to encourage people about it. on advertising posters doctors were involved. Of course, these doctors were not real doctors, but the doctor figure remained in cigarette advertisements for a long time. The company that started this trend is Lucky Strike it happened.

In the 1930s, it began to spread that smoking was dangerous, and people began to smoke. “coffin nail” he said. This situation made cigarette companies nervous and used doctors to take precautions. American Tobacco Company’s Lucky Strike cigarette brand is used by physicians first cigarette brand it happened.

Moreover, Lucky Strikes sent free cigarettes to doctors and asked if they were less irritating to sensitive throats. After Lucky Strikes Philip Morris And camel Brand cigarettes also follow this trend and always use used the doctor figure.

The real truth emerged on January 11, 1964. Surgeon General Luther Terry conveyed the findings of the Surgeon General Advisory Committee on smoking. According to the report Lung cancer and chronic bronchitis are linked to smoking found. In the years following this report, first TV commercials and then printed materials were removed.

Radiation was marketed in combination with many products until it was proven to be lethal.

In the early twentieth century, radiation was believed to have an effect on healing the human body. In medicine, it is believed that small doses of radiation will not cause any harm and even bactericide It was considered to be a feature.

Becoming popular in the United States and Europe as well as Japan radiationwas combined with many products and put on sale. For arthritis relief in blanketsfor rheumatism in necklacesTo prevent aging in cosmetic products radium was included. It was even discovered to be radioactive hot springs It attracted great attention.

Toothpaste, suppository, hemorrhoid cream, hair conditioner He also had his share of the belief in the healing properties of radio. It is possible to see Radium brand creamy butter, stain remover and hand cleaner products that were formerly used in the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History.

When radio-related deaths emerged, the truth began to be realized.

Some entrepreneurs started to bottle and sell the water in the spas. After a while, something was noticed in the water sales. That was because the lifespan of radon in bottles was approximately 4 days. radioactive drinks Industrialist Eben Byers was on the agenda. 3 bottles of radon water per day The death of the industrialist who claimed to have been drinking made newspaper headlines “Radium Water Worked Well Until His Jaw Broke” reflected as.

Another important factor in understanding that radio is harmful is “Radium Girls” it happened. Workers painting clock dials with radium were licking the brush to shape it. How many people died due to radiation accumulating in the bones is among the undisclosed secrets.

The lawsuit filed by Radion Girls had a great impact on the harms of radio all over the world, and the first long-term study was conducted. As a result of the work completed in 1993 Serious security measures have been taken.

“Lobotomy” is considered one of the biggest mistakes of modern medicine.

lobotomyIt was applied in the 1890s as a cure for mental illness. neurological surgery was the method. In this method, the connection in the prefrontal cortex region of the brain was cut off. This brutal method, initiated by Swiss Psychiatrist Gottlieb Burckhardt, was first used by a schizophrenic patient applied in the group.

When Burckhardt removed some parts of the brain, his aim was to transform the state of advanced schizophrenia into a calmer state. The doctor performed many brain surgeries over the course of 10 years. many of these resulted in death, some committed suicide after the surgery. Wait, now something even scarier is coming. Burckhardt performed these surgeries live without anesthesia was doing.

After Burckhardt’s fatal surgery, Portuguese Neurologist António Egas Moniz performed a lobotomy. Nobel Prize in Physiology even took Although, afterwards, a series of actions were taken to cancel the award. Dr. Walter Freeman and Dr. James Watts were among the people who performed the lobotomy surgery.

The patients’ brains were reached through their eyes with an ice pick. Even the thought is terrifying.

Lobotomy has been performed in different ways over the years. eye socket ice pick One of the methods was to implant it and reach the brain from there. directly by breaking off part of the skull disassemble the brain It was another method used in .

No matter how scary it looks lobotomyIt was very popular between 1940 and 1950 and was applied to many patients. Especially during and after World War I, some of them underwent this surgery. voluntarily it even happened. In those years, about to 40 thousand people Lobotomy surgery was performed. After America, the place where lobotomy surgery was performed most was Scandinavia.

There are also famous names among those who underwent lobotomy surgery.

While some had the surgery with their own consent, for some their families decided on this surgery. Famous Oscar winner Actor Warner Baxter He was among the people who underwent surgery. President of America John. F. Kennedy’s sister Rosemary Kennedy was another person. Swedish Painter Sigrid Hjertén He was among the famous names.

Today, of course, lobotomy, which is illegal and considered a crime, Cuckoo Bird It was also revealed in his novel and later in the movie that was projected on the big screen.

Sugar, which was the cause of some diseases, was a sign of wealth.

Although we all know the harms of sugar nowadays, sugar has been used for a long time after it was first discovered. used for therapeutic purposes.

In 8000 BC Guineans again Sugar was discovered and cultivated by. Until 600 AD, maritime trade and sugar cane to China, India and Southeast Asia spread. He learned about the existence of sugar during his visits to India. Greeks and Romans began to use sugar for therapeutic purposes.

According to medical records of the period, sugar; stomach ailments, dry cough, chapped lips, chest complaints and indigestion preferred in such cases. One of the most important names in western medicine Ibn Sina’s He even has words about sugar being a good food. While Greek Physician Simeon Seth wrote that sugar was medicine, the Byzantine Emperor’s palace doctor rose sugar in the treatment of high fever he suggested.

Due to the large profits of sugar cane “White gold” Sugar, as it is called, was once a hard-to-find food and was only accessible to the rich. Sugar, known for its spread all over the world, began to be used in ceremonies and shows. Sugar sculptures and trinkets While they became objects of admiration, they became increasingly popular.

Sugar, “sweet salt” Also known as. Giving it as a treat to guests and its appearance as a source of energy led to the spread of candy. With this popularity, after the 19th century, there was sugar in every home.

In teas and coffees sweetener Sugar, which found its place as a sugar, became more widespread in the 20th century. The fact that everyone uses it shows that sugar is not actually a good thing.

There is another medical mistake that makes people say “give up”.

In 1874, British Chemist Alder Wright synthesized heroin and did several tests on dogs. The chemist must have realized the damage and did not further his work. After 23 years, Bayer chemist of pharmaceutical company Felix Hoffmanre-synthesized heroin. In fact, Felix was told by the company to acetylate morphine to obtain codeine, but the chemist uncovered heroin instead of codeine.

Bayer, this article “Heroin” naming it between 1898 and 1910 cough syrup for children Sold as. The name of the drug is in German “splendid” meaning from “heroisch” It is thought that he took it. Research showed that after a while, heroin turns into morphine in the liver. After realizing this, Bayer launched the “Heroin” brand in 1910. discontinued its sale.

Yes, many mistakes were made in the past, but we must not forget that billions of people are healthier today thanks to medicine.