Going to the doctor for a routine exam is often a tedious task. After all, you almost always feel fine. You don’t need a doctor to tell you what you already know.
Unless, of course, something is wrong with you. In this case, I’m thankful I don’t live in medieval times. After seeing what these so-called “doctors” did to their patients during visits, I’m not sure I’d make it out alive!
1.) Cataract Removal
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Medieval physicians would often use a knife or needle to remove a cataract through the cornea. They would then force the eye lens out of the capsule and to the bottom of the eye.
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Eventually, the influx of Islamic medicine replaced this method with suction methods.
2.) Dwale
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Pronounced dwah-lay, this practice included various potions, elixirs, and concoctions partially inspired by pagan medical remedies.
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Some of these potions were so potent that they could actually kill you.
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The remedies included lettuce juice, castrated boar gall, and hemlock juice. All were mixed with wine. But that’s the last good taste people would have. They would often die as a result of the ingredients.
3.) Trepanning
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Trepanning involves a “physician” cutting a hole into the skull. It was done to an individual suffering from mental illness, seizures, or even skull fractures.
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The survival rate was surprisingly very high, with little chance for infection.
4.) Metallic Catheters
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People in medieval times had diseases just like today, but without access to antibiotics. Many people suffered from a blocked bladder. To fix this, a long metal tube was inserted through the urethra.
5.) Clysters
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A long metallic tube called the clyster was inserted into the body directly through the anus so that various liquids could pass through it. This was a method of administering an enema.
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Although it appears incredibly awful, its use was widespread, even by King Louis XIV.
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It’s speculated that the King had over 2,000 administrations during his reign.
6.) Bloodletting
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Bloodletting was common for most of human history. It was modeled after the menstruation cycle as it “purged women of bad humors.”
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Barbers were the most likely to administer the bloodletting.
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They would make a small cut on the inner arm and release an amount of blood appropriate to the person’s age, sex, and weight.
(via All That Is Interesting)
I don’t even care anymore that my doctor ordered a test to screen for who knows what. If it keeps me away from that brain drill, I’m all for it!
