10 Disturbing Medical Images From History That Show How Far We’ve Come
Over time we’ve seen the emergence of some truly bizarre and disturbing conditions that defy belief and baffle science. Nowadays, our medical infrastructure is incredible and capable of healing a huge array of conditions from around the globe. This wasn’t always the case.
Back in the day they had far less sophisticated equipment. This combined with a far shallower understanding of bodily functions and treatments, meant that highly disturbing medial images emerged. These are some of the most shocking.
1.
Triple Amputee
– The thirty-two year old man pictured here had his legs and one arm crushed by a railroad car which was transporting building materials. He had to have all three limbs amputated. His was the second successful triple amputation in the U.S.
2. Blanch Dumas had three legs and two vaginas and four breasts.
3. Cyclopia is a rare birth defect in which the body is unable to properly separate the two eye sockets so they merge as one. The majority of babies suffering this disease are stillborn but if they survive it’s not usually for more than a few hours.
4.
Elephantiasis
– He was do distressed by his condition that he begged for amputation. Instead an experimental surgery was performed on him which successfully removed much of the excess tissue. Unfortunately, however, he died a few months later.
5.
Enlarged
bosom
– This rather unfortunate woman suffered from bilateral hypertrophy of both breasts. Amazingly she survived an operation to remove them both. After removal the left breast weighed 17 pounds and the right 43 pounds.
6.
Foot Deformity, ‘Lobster Syndrome’
– The deformed feet above are the result of a birth defect. These can occur not just in the feet but the hands also.
7.
Giant Humans
– This is the skeleton of John Aasen (1890-1938) who was employed in the circus as a sideshow freak. John was 214 cm’s tall.
8.
Chinese Fingernails
– As as symbol of of high social standing, high members of the Chinese aristocracy would often grow their fingernails to an excessive length. This was perhaps a sign that they need not have functional use of their hands for work.
9.
Neurofibromatosis
– Is a genetic disorder in which your nerves grow tumours. If one parent suffers from the illness their offspring have a 50% chance of inheriting it.
10.
Widow Sunday
– This is a wax model of Madame Dimanche who had a 9.8 inch horn on her head. It took six years to grow to that length. It was removed successfully by a famed French surgeon.
I had no idea these conditions existed, and my thoughts go out to any sufferers. Are there other medical conditions that could have made this list? Let us know with a comment.
10 Disturbing Medical Images From History That Show How Far We’ve Come
Over time we’ve seen the emergence of some truly bizarre and disturbing conditions that defy belief and baffle science. Nowadays, our medical infrastructure is incredible and capable of healing a huge array of conditions from around the globe. This wasn’t always the case.
Back in the day they had far less sophisticated equipment. This combined with a far shallower understanding of bodily functions and treatments, meant that highly disturbing medial images emerged. These are some of the most shocking.
1.
Triple Amputee
– The thirty-two year old man pictured here had his legs and one arm crushed by a railroad car which was transporting building materials. He had to have all three limbs amputated. His was the second successful triple amputation in the U.S.
2. Blanch Dumas had three legs and two vaginas and four breasts.
3. Cyclopia is a rare birth defect in which the body is unable to properly separate the two eye sockets so they merge as one. The majority of babies suffering this disease are stillborn but if they survive it’s not usually for more than a few hours.
4.
Elephantiasis
– He was do distressed by his condition that he begged for amputation. Instead an experimental surgery was performed on him which successfully removed much of the excess tissue. Unfortunately, however, he died a few months later.
5.
Enlarged
bosom
– This rather unfortunate woman suffered from bilateral hypertrophy of both breasts. Amazingly she survived an operation to remove them both. After removal the left breast weighed 17 pounds and the right 43 pounds.
6.
Foot Deformity, ‘Lobster Syndrome’
– The deformed feet above are the result of a birth defect. These can occur not just in the feet but the hands also.
7.
Giant Humans
– This is the skeleton of John Aasen (1890-1938) who was employed in the circus as a sideshow freak. John was 214 cm’s tall.
8.
Chinese Fingernails
– As as symbol of of high social standing, high members of the Chinese aristocracy would often grow their fingernails to an excessive length. This was perhaps a sign that they need not have functional use of their hands for work.
9.
Neurofibromatosis
– Is a genetic disorder in which your nerves grow tumours. If one parent suffers from the illness their offspring have a 50% chance of inheriting it.
10.
Widow Sunday
– This is a wax model of Madame Dimanche who had a 9.8 inch horn on her head. It took six years to grow to that length. It was removed successfully by a famed French surgeon.
I had no idea these conditions existed, and my thoughts go out to any sufferers. Are there other medical conditions that could have made this list? Let us know with a comment.