CURIOSITIES OF MEDICAL EXPERIENCE Original Author : J. G. Millingen Edited/Added and Translated By : M. Meenachi Sundaram TABLE OF CONTENTS CURIOSITIES OF MEDICAL EXPERIENCE.. 6 PREFACE.. 6 INTRODUCTION.. 9 OBESITY.. 15 DWARFS.. 24 GIGANTIC RACES.. 28 UNLAWFUL CURES.. 36 VOICE AND SPEECH.. 49 ECSTATIC EXALTATION.. 56 VARIETIES OF MANKIND.. 63 ON THE INHUMATION OF THE DEAD IN CITIES.. 75 BURIED ALIVE.. 85 SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.. 89 BRASSICA ERUCA, OR THE ROCKET PLANT. 94 CAGLIOSTRO.. 95 LUNAR INFLUENCE ON HUMAN LIFE AND DISEASES.. 97 SPECTACLES.. 102 LEECHES.. 103 SOMNAMBULISM.. 106 MEDICAL POWERS OF MUSIC.. 115 THE FOOD OF MANKIND. ITS USE AND ABUSE.. 123 INFLUENCE OF IMAGINATION.. 155 ANCIENT IDEAS OF PHRENOLOGY.. 167 PERFUMES.. 169 LOVE PHILTERS AND POTIONS.. 175 VENTRILOQUISM.. 184 CHAUCER’S DESCRIPTION OF A PHYSICIAN. THE DOCTOR OF PHYSIC.. 187 DÆMONOMANIA.. 189 THE PLAGUE.. 203 ABSTINENCE.. 227 POISON OF THE UPAS, OR IPO.. 233 HOMOPHAGOUS AND POLYPHAGOUS.. 240 CAUSES OF INSANITY.. 248 LEPROSY.. 271 THE ASPIC.. 278 SELDEN’S COMPARISON BETWEEN A DIVINE, A STATESMAN, AND A PHYSICIAN. 280 THE LETTUCE.. 281 MEDICAL FEES.. 282 ENTHUSIASM.. 289 MEDICINAL EFFECTS OF WATER.. 305 PROVERBS AND SAYINGS REGARDING HEALTH AND DISEASE. 313 THE NIGHT-MARE.. 318 INCUBATION OF DISEASES.. 323 QUACKERY AND CHARLATANISM.. 326 ON THE USE OF TEA.. 335 MANDRAGORE.. 340 BARBER-SURGEONS, AND THE PROGRESS OF CHIRURGICAL ART. 344 ON DREAMS.. 356 ON FLAGELLATION.. 375 ON LIFE AND THE BLOOD.. 381 OF THE HOMŒOPATHIC DOCTRINES.. 402 DOCTRINE OF SIGNATURES.. 433 COFFEE.. 439 AQUA TOPHANIA.. 443 PLICA POLONICA AND HUMAN HAIR.. 447 ANIMAL MAGNETISM.. 455 POISONOUS FISHES.. 468 MEMORY AND THE MENTAL FACULTIES.. 476 AFFECTIONS OF THE SIGHT. 494 HELLEBORE.. 501 SYMPATHIES AND ANTIPATHIES.. 504 THE ARCHEUS OF VAN HELMONT. 517 MONSTERS.. 522 LONGEVITY.. 533 CRETINISM.. 557 TEMPERAMENTS.. 562 SOLAR INFLUENCE.. 569 SWEATING FEVER.. 573 SMALLPOX.. 580 GENERATIVE ANIMALCULES.. 589 CIRCULATION OF THE BLOOD.. 595 DRUNKENNESS.. 598 DECAPITATION.. 608 MUMMIES.. 610 HYDROPHOBIA.. 621 ON THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SCIENCE OF MEDICINE.. 629 MEDICINE OF THE CHINESE.. 649 EXPERIMENTS ON LIVING ANIMALS.. 657 ABOUT THE AUTHOR.. 665 CURIOSITIES OF MEDICAL EXPERIENCE PREFACE 1. Introduction to Medical Curiosities: The field of medicine is vast and ever-evolving, with many fascinating phenomena that challenge our understanding of the human body and health. Medical curiosities often refer to unusual cases, rare diseases, unexpected treatments, or phenomena that defy conventional wisdom. These curiosities not only intrigue professionals and patients alike but also push the boundaries of medical knowledge. From spontaneous healing to the placebo effect, such cases remind us how much remains to be discovered about the intricacies of the human body. 2. The Mystery of the Placebo Effect: One of the most intriguing phenomena in medical science is the placebo effect. Patients given a harmless, non-active treatment often show significant improvements in their condition simply because they believe they are receiving real medicine. The placebo effect has puzzled doctors and researchers for decades, raising questions about the power of the mind over the body. Studies show that even when patients know they are taking a placebo, they can still experience real benefits, suggesting a complex interaction between psychology and physiology. 3. Spontaneous Remission in Cancer: Another fascinating medical curiosity is the occurrence of spontaneous remission in cancer patients. While extremely rare, there have been documented cases of patients whose cancer suddenly disappeared without any treatment. The mechanisms behind spontaneous remission are still poorly understood, though some researchers hypothesize that the immune system plays a crucial role. These cases challenge our understanding of disease progression and hint at the potential of the body’s natural defenses to combat illness in unexpected ways. 4. Rare Diseases and Genetic Anomalies: Medicine is also filled with stories of rare diseases and genetic conditions that affect only a tiny fraction of the population. Conditions like progeria, which causes rapid aging in children, or the phenomenon of “stone man syndrome” (Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva), where muscle tissue turns into bone, are both heartbreaking and scientifically fascinating. These rare conditions provide unique insights into human genetics, developmental biology, and the delicate balance that keeps our bodies functioning normally. 5. The Phenomenon of Phantom Limbs: The phenomenon of phantom limb pain is another medical curiosity that has puzzled scientists and doctors alike. Patients who have lost a limb often report feeling sensations, including pain, in the limb that is no longer there. This occurs because the brain’s representation of the body remains intact, even after amputation. Treatments such as mirror therapy have been developed to help patients retrain their brain and alleviate the discomfort, but the underlying neural mechanisms are still being studied. 6. Outliers in Human Physiology: There are also rare cases where individuals exhibit extraordinary physiological traits that defy common medical understanding. Some people have remarkable resistance to disease, while others possess extreme physical endurance or an unusual tolerance to pain. For instance, certain individuals can survive in extreme environments, such as freezing temperatures, without the typical physiological responses of hypothermia. Studying these outliers provides valuable insights into the potential limits and adaptability of the human body. 7. The Role of Gut Microbiome in Health: In recent years, research on the gut microbiome has revealed surprising connections between gut bacteria and overall health. The idea that trillions of microorganisms living in our digestive system play a critical role in everything from immunity to mental health was once a curiosity, but it has now become a serious area of study. Some unusual cases have highlighted the importance of gut bacteria, such as patients whose mental health improved after fecal transplants, demonstrating the interconnectedness of bodily systems. 8. Unexplained Medical Phenomena: Despite advances in medical science, there remain conditions and occurrences that doctors still cannot fully explain. For example, certain people suffer from conditions like Morgellons disease, in which they report skin sensations of crawling and fibers emerging from their skin, but medical tests often find no clear cause. Similarly, certain cases of chronic pain syndromes have no detectable physical origin, yet they significantly impact the patient’s quality of life. These unexplained phenomena are a reminder that medicine does not yet have all the answers. 9. Medical Discoveries by Accident: Some of the greatest medical breakthroughs have come about by accident or through curiosity-driven experimentation. Penicillin, the first antibiotic, was famously discovered by Alexander Fleming when he noticed that mold had killed bacteria in a petri dish. Similarly, the discovery of X-rays was a serendipitous event that revolutionized diagnostic medicine. These moments of chance remind us that the path to medical advancement is not always straightforward and that curiosity often plays a crucial role in discovery. 10. Conclusion: Curiosity and the Future of Medicine: Medical curiosities not only highlight the strange and unexpected in the world of health but also serve as a driving force for progress. The more doctors, researchers, and scientists explore these curiosities, the more they push the boundaries of what is known. These cases encourage deeper investigation into rare diseases, unusual physiological conditions, and unexplained phenomena, ultimately leading to new treatments, technologies, and a better understanding of the human body. Curiosity has always been at the heart of medical advancement, and it will continue to fuel innovation in the future.