Doctor Mike and Historian Lindsey Fitzharris Uncover History's 'Wildest Medical Products'

Dr. Mike, who uses advanced medical technology in his practice, was challenged to identify various historical medical inventions while blindfolded. He was joined by Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris, a medical historian and PhD holder, who curated a collection of unusual items for the segment.

The first object Dr. Mike encountered was a mask, which he initially guessed might be related to a delivery scenario. However, upon further inspection, recognizing its eyes and beak, he correctly identified it as a plague doctor mask. Dr. Fitzharris explained that despite popular belief, the mask was invented in the 17th century, not medieval times, and served as an early form of protective gear. Its beak was filled with sweet-smelling herbs to ward off 'miasma' or bad smells, which people at the time believed caused disease. Dr. Mike noted the surprising logical basis of this belief, as viruses spread through air droplets and dirty environments.

Dr. Mike was presented with a heavy object that produced a distinct sound, leading him to quickly identify it as an amputation device. He further speculated it was for leg amputations, to which Dr. Fitzharris clarified it could be used for any limb.

This amputation device, known as the clockwork saw, was invented by surgeon WHB Winchester. The object presented is a replica; the original is housed in the Hunterian collection in London. Winchester designed the saw with a crank mechanism intended to make the blade spin continuously.

However, the device proved to be a catastrophic failure. During its first use in an operating theater, Winchester cranked the saw, and it immediately spun, severing his assistant's fingers.

Dr. Mike encountered a furry, unsettling object that he tentatively identified as a miniature scalp. Dr. Fitzharris then revealed it was a Victorian mermaid, which she described as a "hideous thing," noting that Disney's portrayal of mermaids was far from this historical reality.

Although Dr. Mike's guess of a miniature scalp was technically incorrect for the Victorian mermaid, he argued that he would consistently debate such points, suggesting he often sought partial credit. The host granted him partial credit for his effort, acknowledging the object was not overtly medical but was collected by 19th-century doctors. These mermaids, which were obvious fakes often presented as real specimens by figures like P.T. Barnum, were typically constructed from half fish and half primate parts.

Dr. Mike first guessed the V-shaped plate object was a bedpan, then a sound bath device, and later a lighter. However, Dr. Fitzharris revealed that the object was exceptionally old, predating the United States itself. She provided a clue by mentioning the year 1789, the year George Washington became president, noting that the object dated from around that time. Dr. Mike then jokingly identified it as 'the shield from Troy.'

The object was then revealed to be a fleam, a device used to open veins for bloodletting. This particular fleam, dating from 1789, was brought to highlight the practice of bloodletting, specifically mentioning George Washington's experience. Ten years after becoming president, Washington, suffering from an upper respiratory illness, requested to be bled, a common treatment at the time, akin to seeking antibiotics today.

Dr. Fitzharris explained the historical distinction between doctors and surgeons. Doctors were university-educated individuals who focused on internal medicine, a term that originates from this period. In contrast, surgeons were considered lower class, working with their hands, and often associated with barbering.

The barber's bleeding bowl, dating from around 1760, was used to catch blood during procedures. Dr. Fitzharris clarified that the practice was not as violent as depicted in popular culture, with blood simply running into the bowl from an arm.

The iconic barber's pole with its red and white stripes served as an advertisement for bloodletting services offered at barber shops. The red stripes represented blood, and the white bandages, which were tied around the pole to dry, created the spiral effect. A bowl at the top of the pole was used to collect blood during the procedure.

In addition to surgical bloodletting, leeches were another option for patients, considered a safer alternative to cutting open a vein. Today, bloodletting is still used for certain medical conditions.

The 19th century saw a significant "leech craze," during which women would wade into leech-infested waters, hike up their dresses, allow leeches to attach, and then collect and sell them to doctors for profit.

Dr. Mike was given a pair of glasses, which he initially mistook for sunglasses. Dr. Fitzharris revealed they were 19th-century safety glasses, designed to protect workers from new types of injuries that emerged during the Industrial Revolution.

These glasses were specifically intended to shield eyes from flying metal fragments in factories. Dr. Mike noted their surprisingly ergonomic design and comfortable fit, despite their age, even though visibility through them was limited.

Dr. Mike correctly identified a unique item as an early condom. Dr. Fitzharris explained that these 18th-century condoms, often called 'French envelopes' due to the historical blaming of France for syphilis, were made from animal intestines.

These reusable condoms required rehydration with milk or water before each use. Dr. Fitzharris also mentioned that modern replicas are still being handmade by a craftsperson in Scotland.

Syphilis was rampant and highly disfiguring in the 19th century, often causing the nose to collapse. While modern medicine uses antibiotics like penicillin, historical attempts at a cure included ineffective and dangerous mercury injections.

Dr. Fitzharris revealed the surprising origin of Kellogg's cereal. Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, a physician who ran a sanatorium in Battle Creek, Michigan, was obsessed with preventing masturbation. He believed it caused the body to overheat and led to various illnesses.

To combat this perceived problem, Kellogg advocated for a bland diet, believing it would suppress sexual urges. His medical practices also included extreme procedures, such as performing circumcisions without anesthetic and applying carbolic acid to the clitoris. Dr. Mike expressed his intent to visit Kellogg's headquarters to inquire if employees were aware of this historical background.

Dr. Mike correctly identified a device as being used for artificial insemination, noting its large gauge. Dr. Fitzharris clarified its actual purpose: a 19th-century instrument used to inject mercury into the urethra to treat syphilis.

Syphilis was a widespread and disfiguring disease in the 19th century, often leading to facial collapse. While modern medicine effectively treats syphilis with simple antibiotics like penicillin, historical treatments like mercury injections were both ineffective and agonizing. Dr. Mike mused on the unpleasantness of such a procedure, while Dr. Fitzharris highlighted the stark contrast with modern medical solutions.

Dr. Mike identified a wooden tube as an obstetric stethoscope, mentioning he had seen similar ancient tools during his medical rotations. Dr. Fitzharris confirmed it was the original stethoscope, invented in 1816 by René Laennec in France.

Laennec devised the instrument when he found it inappropriate to place his ear directly on the chest of a young female patient suspected of having tuberculosis. He initially rolled up paper to listen, realizing it improved audibility, and later developed the wooden version. Tragically, Laennec himself died of tuberculosis within ten years of his invention, highlighting the dangers of being a doctor in the 19th century.

Initially, the stethoscope was primarily used to listen to the lungs. It was only later that its use expanded to include listening to the heart. The modern double-ear stethoscope has since become an iconic symbol of medicine.

Dr. Mike initially guessed an instrument might be for kidney stone removal, referencing the lithotomy procedure. Dr. Fitzharris then revealed it was a skull saw, used for trepanning, the practice of drilling holes in the skull.

Trepanning has been practiced for thousands of years, with evidence showing patient survival. It was used to relieve pressure or for spiritual reasons. In the 19th century, similar instruments were used to scrape parts of the skull for pressure relief after injuries.

However, actual brain surgery remained beyond the grasp of medical professionals until the late 19th century, with the advent of anesthesia in 1846 and the development of germ theory. Controlling pain and preventing post-operative infection were crucial breakthroughs that finally made brain intervention possible.

Dr. Mike immediately recognized a skull replica as belonging to Phineas Gage, a famous medical case from 1848. Gage survived after an iron rod shot through his head and exited the other side.

Witnesses found it deeply unsettling that Gage stood up and began talking immediately after the catastrophic injury. While he survived, his personality significantly changed, becoming a crucial case study in early neurobiology. Gage later died in 1860 from seizures, likely related to his injury. His skull was subsequently studied and became part of a medical collection, raising ethical questions about medical specimen collection.

Dr. Fitzharris presented a medieval urine wheel, explaining that urine was a key diagnostic tool in the past, similar to its use today but with different methods. The urine wheel functioned as a color chart, allowing physicians to interpret health conditions based on urine color. She noted that green urine would typically indicate serious trouble, though Dr. Mike pointed out it could also be caused by B vitamins.

Physicians of the era were sometimes called 'piss prophets' due to their reliance on urine examination. The urine flask was an even more iconic symbol of medicine than the stethoscope until the latter's invention. In the 17th century, physicians like Thomas Willis even tasted urine for sweetness to diagnose diabetes, describing it as 'melatus' or honeyed. While they couldn't cure diabetes, they could detect it through this method.

Dr. Mike explained that modern medicine still employs a similar diagnostic method using point-of-care (POCT) urine dipsticks. When a patient presents with urinary symptoms, a urine sample is collected and tested using these dipsticks.

The dipstick features several squares that change color after about a minute. These color changes are then matched against a reference chart, similar to the ancient urine wheel, to detect various metrics such as the presence and amount of blood or glucose, providing quick diagnostic insights.

Dr. Mike initially guessed an object was a whistle for help, but it was revealed to be a trench horn from World War I, specifically used to warn soldiers of gas attacks. Dr. Fitzharris highlighted how rapidly artillery changed during WWI, enabling a company of 300 men to deploy the same firepower as a 60,000-strong Napoleonic army, leading to horrific new types of injuries.

The devastating nature of WWI, with new weaponry like tanks and chemical gas, pushed rapid advancements in medicine. Doctors made strides in blood transfusion, establishing the first blood banks near the front lines, and saw progress in plastic surgery and anesthesia.

Ironically, these medical improvements, while saving lives, also contributed to prolonging the war. As doctors became better at patching up injured soldiers, these men were often sent back to the front lines faster, thus extending the conflict.