28 Terrifying Medical Procedures and Devices from Days Long Ago

Mr_Incognito Published 08/15/2023 in creepy

As time marches on, everything around us changes.

Technology, infrastructure, travel, and of course, medicine are ever-evolving industries. Now we know times have changed, but looking back at some of these old medical devices you'd be shocked to learn that while most of them aren't torture devices, they sure do appear to resemble them.

From plague masks to iron lungs, here are some of the most out-there medical devices ever used by doctors.

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1.
Masks worn by doctors during the Plague. The beaks held scented substances to mask the scent of death and dying.
2.
Children in an iron lung before the advent of the polio vaccination. Many children lived for months in these machines, though not all survived. c. 1937
3.
Corset damage to a ribcage. 19th century London
4.
Dr. Kilmer's Female Remedy
5.
Tanning babies at the Chicago Orphan Asylum, 1925, to offset winter rickets
6.
Woman with an artificial leg, too embarrassed to show her face c. 1890-1900
7.
Wooden prosthetic hand, c. 1800
8.
Blood transfusion bottle, England 1978
9.
Dr. Clark's Spinal Apparatus advertisement, 1878
10.
Neurological exam with electrical device, c. 1884
11.
Antique prosthetic leg
12.
"Walter Reed physiotherapy store" 1920's
13.
US Civil War surgeon's kit
14.
Boy in rolling "invalid cart" c. 1915
15.
Obstetric phantom, Italy 1700-1800. Tool to teach medical students and midwives about childbirth
16.
Radioactive yummies
17.
Claude Becks early defibulator
18.
Antique birthing chair used until the 1800s
19.
Knives for surgery, China, 1801-1920.
20.
Anatomical Model. Doctors were not allowed to touch the women's bodies, so they would point to describe pain locations
21.
Radiology nurse technician, WWI France 1918
22.
1855-1860. One of first surgical procedures using ether as an anesthetic
23.
Rush Medical College lecture auditorium, 1900, Chicago
24.
Lewis Sayre's scoliosis treatment
25.
26.
Leonid Rogozov, the only surgeon on an Antarctic expedition, performing surgery on himself after suffering from appendicitis. April 30, 1961
27.

1.
Masks worn by doctors during the Plague. The beaks held scented substances to mask the scent of death and dying.
2.
Children in an iron lung before the advent of the polio vaccination. Many children lived for months in these machines, though not all survived. c. 1937
3.
Corset damage to a ribcage. 19th century London
4.
Dr. Kilmer's Female Remedy
5.
Tanning babies at the Chicago Orphan Asylum, 1925, to offset winter rickets
6.
Woman with an artificial leg, too embarrassed to show her face c. 1890-1900
7.
Wooden prosthetic hand, c. 1800
8.
Blood transfusion bottle, England 1978
9.
Dr. Clark's Spinal Apparatus advertisement, 1878
10.
Neurological exam with electrical device, c. 1884
11.
Antique prosthetic leg
12.
"Walter Reed physiotherapy store" 1920's
13.
US Civil War surgeon's kit
14.
Boy in rolling "invalid cart" c. 1915
15.
Obstetric phantom, Italy 1700-1800. Tool to teach medical students and midwives about childbirth
16.
Radioactive yummies
17.
Claude Becks early defibulator
18.
Antique birthing chair used until the 1800s
19.
Knives for surgery, China, 1801-1920.
20.
Anatomical Model. Doctors were not allowed to touch the women's bodies, so they would point to describe pain locations
21.
Radiology nurse technician, WWI France 1918
22.
1855-1860. One of first surgical procedures using ether as an anesthetic
23.
Rush Medical College lecture auditorium, 1900, Chicago
24.
Lewis Sayre's scoliosis treatment
25.
26.
Leonid Rogozov, the only surgeon on an Antarctic expedition, performing surgery on himself after suffering from appendicitis. April 30, 1961
27.