Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages

An irreverent jaunt through medical history's most dubious ideas, bizarre treatments, and biggest blunders.

The ancient Egyptians applied electric eels to cure migraines. Medieval dentists burned candles in patients' mouths to kill invisible worms gnawing at their teeth. Renaissance physicians, by law, timed surgical procedures with the position of the stars, and instructed epileptics to collect fresh blood from the newly beheaded.

Highlighting bad science, oafish behavior, and stomach-turning procedures that hurt more than helped, Strange Medicine presents extraordinary but true facts and an honor roll of doctors, scientists, and dreamers who gave a whole new meaning to clinical trials!