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Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything
Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything | Lydia Kang, Nate Pedersen
94 posts | 55 read | 152 to read
Imagine a time when doctors prescribed morphine for crying infants. When liquefied gold was touted as immortality in a glass. And when strychnine--yes, that strychnine, the one used in rat poison--was dosed like Viagra. Looking back with fascination, horror, and not a little dash of dark, knowing humor, Quackery recounts the lively, at times unbelievable history of medical misfires and malpractices. Ranging from the merely weird to the outright dangerous, here are 67 outlandish, morbidly hilarious "treatments"-- conceived by doctors and scientists, by spiritualists and snail oil salesmen--that were predicated on a range of cluelessness, trial and error, and straight-up scams. With vintage illustrations, photographs, and advertisements throughout, Quackery seamlessly combines macabre humor with science and storytelling to reveal an important and disturbing side of the ever-evolving field of medicine. Written by Dr. Lydia Kang, a practicing physician, and Nate Pederson, a journalist and historian, it's all here -- the leeches, the arsenic drops, the water cures and radium spa hotels, the prefontal lobotomies. Do no harm? As if!
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Beatlefan129
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Mehso-so

On the plus side, I really enjoyed hearing about some of the wacky things that people used to think could cure or treat illness. However, the fact is that real people were harmed and even killed by some of these snake oil cures. I know they wanted to keep the tone of the book more light and humorous, but not acknowledging the real toll of these felt wrong to me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

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Jenken1998
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Pickpick

Gross.....yet entertaining. LOL. A historical look at previous medical and psychological treatments. Some had merit and others were insane. Have a strong stomach for this one!

55 likes4 stack adds
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CSeydel
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Late getting this posted, but I‘m excited to read my #bookspin and #doublespin selections for #january ! Both were Christmas gifts to me … in 2020 😬

TheAromaofBooks I also just checked a 2020 acquisition off the list 😂 2y
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Cathyloves2read
Pickpick

I read this book as part of an A to Z challenge. I probably wouldn‘t have picked it up otherwise, but so glad I did. It was very interesting! Wow! The things people used to believe and do in the name of medicine and healing! Many of the quacky techniques didn‘t take place that long ago. I‘m afraid to admit that someday I‘ll be reading about some of the medical practices that take place today in a similar book.

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sebrittainclark
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Mehso-so

3/5

It was an interesting look at some of the strange things humans have used as medicine throughout history. The tone is generally light and humorous, but I thought it was kind of jarring when the book was discussing the more horrifying treatments of the past. It kind of made those parts of the book even more horrifying by trying to keep the tone light.

sebrittainclark @Megabooks I felt the same way 3y
StayCurious I find medical history fascinating 3y
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LibraryCin
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Pickpick

This is told with humour and plenty of fun illustrations from the past. Very interesting stuff. Some of what they look at here were things doctors actually did, but some other things were what the “quacks” were selling. Unfortunately, I‘m not sure how much I‘ll remember. It looks at so many different things in short bursts of information, but was definitely interesting as I read it. The authors are a doctor and a journalist.

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K.Wielechowski
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Pickpick

I seriously loved this book so much!! From leaches to arsenic to mesmerism, Quackery covers some of the strange, bizarre, and deadly ways humans have attempted to cure different ailments throughout history. The authors imbued the book with humor and filled it with historic photographs along with brief accounts of “cures” gone wrong.

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K.Wielechowski
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Blowing Smoke Up Your Arse
God forbid you accidentally inhaled. The results would not only be beyond disgusting but also potentially deadly. If your victim had cholera... then you‘d be a goner, too, by virtue of sucking down cholera bacteria. And that, my friends just about takes the cake for “worst ways to die” featured in this book.

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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

What a fun book! From using mashed lentils on hemorrhoids to implanting bits of goat testicle for improved virility and more, this book looks at zany “cures” touted through the ages. There was much 🤨 and 🧐, plus a little 😲 and lots of 😂. My husband gave me this one—he did good!

TrishB And great pic 😁 3y
Soubhiville This pic is fantastic! 3y
Hooked_on_books @TrishB @Soubhiville Thanks! I was hoping my cartoon organs would come in handy one day! 😜 3y
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MarkoPDX
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Pickpick

I got into a funk early on in our lockdown. I just could not finish anything, so I started a lot of books, but did not finish. Not because I didn't like them, but I just couldn't focus. For some reason, this book kind of kick-started things again. It was a light, easy read, and funny as hell.

Read in 2020

#history

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rachelsbrittain
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Pickpick

If you like learning about medical history this book is a must-read. I had a bit of background for a lot of the topics covered from my Sawbones obsession and some other books on medical history / poison (pretty much one and the same at some points) but I learned lots of new things in this book and found it really well-written and insightful. Great, informative and highly entertaining read.

rachelsbrittain TW for a section on lobotomies for anyone else who is as triggered by that subject as I am. 4y
wideeyedreader So would you say this is good for fans of Sawbones? I love that podcast 4y
rachelsbrittain @wideeyedreader absolutely! It reminded me a bit of their book but covered a lot of different topics in addition to some familiar ones 4y
See All 6 Comments
wideeyedreader @rachelsbrittain awesome! I‘ll have to look out for it! 4y
rachelsbrittain @wideeyedreader i definitely recommend it! And always great to find a fellow Sawbones fan 😄 4y
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rachelsbrittain
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Authors who drank cocaine wine: Arthur Conan Doyle, Jules Verne, Alexandre Dumas, Henrik Ibsen, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Also: Queen Victoria, Pope Leo XIII, Pope Pius X, and Thomas Edison

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rachelsbrittain
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I love a literary anecdote in a book about medical history! Apparently the author of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde may have been very hopped up on cocaine when he wrote his famous novella 👀

Scochrane26 I read Andrew Shaffer‘s book Literary Rogues & came away with the realization that a lot of our past authors were on drugs or drunk. Ken Kesey used LSD during some of his writing of One Flew Over the Cuckoo‘s Nest, for example. (edited) 4y
Scochrane26 I didn‘t know about Stevenson though. Interesting. 4y
rachelsbrittain @Scochrane26 Ohh I may have to add that one to my TBR! Sounds quite interesting. And with the history of drugs being so tied up in medicine (both real and patent) it makes sense really! 4y
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm I believe it, having read that one last year. 😅 4y
38 likes4 comments
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rachelsbrittain
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Why yes, my favorite bathtub reads are normally about poisons and drugs, how about you?

RamsFan1963 I loved this book!! 4y
RainyDayReading This is one of my favorites! 4y
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm I love your Plant Lady mug! 🥰 4y
52 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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rachelsbrittain
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Reading about bad cures, poisons, and medical history on this rainy afternoon

Librariana Love your reading companion 🥰🐶 4y
rachelsbrittain @Librariana she's a sweetie. And can curl up surprisingly tightly for a 60lb dog! 4y
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Jen2
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Pickpick

Oh my goodness this was so gross!!!

witchyreader13 Love the spoon! My fiancee just bought me one for our anniversary that says, “Enjoy your coffee, bitch. I love you!“ Lol. Did I mention she's a brat? 😂 4y
cornfedwellread Even if the book was gross, that spoon is adorable! 4y
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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Pickpick

Medical history and failed treatments wouldn‘t be a choice for everyone. But as our world faces medical discussion *everywhere* this also made sense for my mindset. The authors discuss origins of a few solid medical practices too. It‘s plenty sarcastic and ironic, which helped balance some of the ewwww moments also. Not good for mealtime reading.

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2020 #litsyatoz #letterq

Megabooks Loved this one! 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Megabooks Me too! I got the Caitlin Doughty vibes similar to 4y
Megabooks I would agree with that for sure!! Enjoyed both books. 4y
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Crazeedi Need to definitely read this one!!! 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Crazeedi @Megabooks I really loved her first book—the one you‘re reading now. Hope you enjoy her take on life (and death). 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Lizpixie Awesome! Hope you find it as fascinating as I did! 4y
Lizpixie @BarbaraTheBibliophage I hope so too, god knows I‘ve had a few “worst cures” tried on me over the last 20yrs!🥴 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Lizpixie Ugh. Me too. As a massage therapist, many of my colleagues support some “unique” therapies. And I admit, I‘ve tried more than my share also! 4y
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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O. M. G. So many of these cures are just batsh*t crazy. And the narrator really has a knack for the irony of the situation.

ravenlee Anything about injecting disinfectant? 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @ravenlee Good point-LOL. Not yet! 4y
Reggie @ravenlee Lolol, I shouldn‘t laugh but couldn‘t stop. Lolol 4y
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ravenlee Well, maybe there will be an afterword to a future edition... 4y
ravenlee @Reggie it‘s a laugh or cry kind of deal these days, isn‘t it? 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @ravenlee I wonder if the authors are on Twitter. I‘ll have to look ... maybe they‘ve added a postscript there. 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Reggie @ravenlee Laugh, cry, vote, resist ... all that! 4y
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amber_ldsmom
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OriginalCyn620 📚😬📚 4y
20 likes1 comment
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Chrys
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Pickpick

This was hysterical and informative. I was unaware that radioactive suppositories had been a thing 😳. A large number of supposed cures were covered, and if they had led to anything modern ( current use of radiation for example).

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elizabethlk
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Pickpick

Quackery is a ridiculously fun book. It covers a ton of quack medical practices through the ages with humour and knowledge, and I had a blast going through the weirdest parts of medical history. Definitely recommended.

Megabooks Loved this one too! 5y
33 likes1 comment
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jessinikkip
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Pickpick

So now that my #newyearwhodis books are here, I had a chance to read one. This was an excellent book. I loved the little sarcastic comments like "No, humans arent suffering a deficit in cyanide and we really don't want more. Really." This was an informative and funny read, right up my alley! I have 3 more NYWD books to look forward to!
@RainyDayReading @monalyisha

monalyisha Hooray! I‘ll be reading into February, too. Glad your first read went well! 5y
RainyDayReading I‘m so glad you wound up liking this! Hope you enjoy your other selections as well 😄 5y
ElizaMarie Your review on this looked so so good! I am super curious about this book and have placed it on my TBR so that I can work on it soon 5y
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jessinikkip
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I finally received my #NewYearWhoDis books after a lot of sighing and fussing about them. Pup was in my lap until I picked up the book and he left with a huff like "oh god not this again!!!"

@RainyDayReading @monalyisha

RainyDayReading Sounds like what my dog does 🤣 Happy Reading! 5y
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Daisey
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Pickpick

This was a fascinating listen, some things I had read about or knew about from other sources and many I did not know. The style is conversational and humorous.

I finished listening while taking a walk and feeding the calves at my sister‘s while visiting this weekend.

#nonfiction #audiobook #Hoopla

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I‘ve seen this one on here before, it always look so tempting! 5y
Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa This was absolutely a #BlameitonLitsy choice. It‘s a very light and fun listen for something that could be a heavy topic. 5y
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RainyDayReading
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Pickpick

So entertaining! After reading this I am immensely grateful for the advances in medicine and science because some of the cures in here...yeah if I was sick anytime before the mid 1900s I would just die rather than undergo treatment 🤣 The commentary from the authors is hilarious and really made this book stand out. Definitely recommended if you‘re into medical or weird history. Bonus picture of Daisy included since she‘s been my cuddle buddy.

MrBook Great review! 😻😻😻😻 5y
Addison_Reads This sounds awesome! 5y
Hooked_on_books Daisy! 😍🐶 5y
37 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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RainyDayReading
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Well. It‘s not great, but it‘s all I could manage over the mess that was my weekend 🙈 maybe someday I‘ll actually be able to participate better. #LitsyPartyofOne #24B4Monday #MrBook1inaMillion @MrBook @Andrew65 @Clwojick @Lynnsoprano @TheReadingMermaid @Rachel.Rencher @Lucas.Rencher

night_shift That's still a decent chuck of reading time! How your week gets better! 5y
MrBook Fantastic final time 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻! 🔥 5y
Andrew65 That‘s still a very respectable time. Well done and thanks for taking part, hopefully we‘ll see you again when you can aim to beat this time. 👏👏👏🙌🥳👍🍾🎈 5y
32 likes3 comments
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RainyDayReading
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Still loving and laughing my way through Quackery. Only difference now is I‘ve got (only) 3 hours of reading under my belt, I‘m home, and I‘ve got what remains of a toasted cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese to snack *cough devour immediately cough* on. 😁 I‘ve got 3 hours till midnight so I‘m going to try to make them count. #LitsyPartyofOne #24B4Monday #MrBook1inaMillion @MrBook @Andrew65 @Clwojick @Lynnsoprano @Rachel.Rencher @jb72

MrBook You‘re rockin‘ it! 😎👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏻 5y
Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏😊 5y
35 likes3 comments
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RainyDayReading
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Well...there were more spring rolls in the bowl 😅 I didn‘t realize how hungry I was until they were almost gone! I‘ve only managed about an hour of reading so far into Quackery but I am loving it. It is absolutely hilarious. Hoping to get a few more hours in before the day is out. #MrBook1inaMillion #LitsyPartyOfOne #24B4Monday @MrBook @Clwojick @Andrew65 @Rachel.Rencher @TheReadingMermaid @Lucas.Rencher @Alisnazzy @jb72 @Lynnsoprano

Andrew65 Amazing how quickly food disappears when we read at the same time. 5y
Lynnsoprano Totally understand disappearing food 🤣 5y
TheBookAddict It happens. 😅🤷🏽‍♀️ 5y
See All 8 Comments
MrBook Love it 😆! I want that book! 😁 5y
Clwojick Hah! This happens around me often. 5y
RainyDayReading @MrBook It‘s hilarious! Well worth the read when you get around to it 😁 5y
RainyDayReading @Andrew65 @Lynnsoprano @TheBookAddict @Clwojick I even told myself that I needed to take a picture first before I ate any! But then I thought eating one couldn‘t hurt...🙈 Just can‘t be trusted with snacks, especially when I‘ve got a book haha. 5y
TheBookAddict @RainyDayReading 😆 you‘re not alone! 5y
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RainyDayReading
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Little late to the party but I just found out about the #MrBook1inaMillion event. Not sure how much I‘ll be able to participate this weekend, but I‘ll try. Here‘s three books due back to the library soon that I‘d like to get to. Plus my current favorite snack 😋 Nothing fancy for now. Between Nanowrimo, house hunting and spending time with my boyfriend this weekend, we‘ll see how much I get done 😅 #LitsyPartyOfOne #24B4Monday @MrBook @Clwojick

MrBook Aww, thank you for joining in despite your hectic schedule! Even just for a few minutes is wonderful ☺️🤗! Great choices! 5y
Linsy Loved Quackery! 5y
See All 6 Comments
Clwojick Oh mu gosh! those suckers were my favourite as a child! 5y
Andrew65 Good luck with getting the library books completed. 😊👍 5y
RainyDayReading @Clwojick They‘re so good!! I will never stop loving them 🖤 5y
33 likes6 comments
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TracyReadsBooks
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Little bit of everything in my latest Book Outlet #bookhaul. I sort of feel like a squirrel stockpiling nuts for the winter—yeah, I have a huge TBR pile but there‘s always room for another book, right? And you never know what you might want to read. You need to have options...

Just preparing as 🍁🍂🐿📚🍂🍁 will soon turn to ❄️☃️📚☃️❄️.

😊

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sherryvdh
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I was looking around on overdrive to find some accompaniment for my #audiocleaning today. This sounds fascinating! I can't wait to start. After having a sick toddler all week, I really need to get things done, including some penpal responses. Hope everyone has a great weekend (and a great long weekend for those who have one this weekend)!

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BiblioLitten
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A few examples from my husband‘s bizarre, shocking yet fascinating #currentread about medical misfires and malpractices.
Morphine for crying babies, Arsenic to cure fatigue, Tobacco for lung diseases, drilling a hole in the head to cure insanity!
Surely a #highwaytohell for the patients.
#maymoviemagic

Centique Yikes! 6y
tammysue Hard to believe isn‘t it! 6y
RohitSawant Scary stuff! 6y
See All 6 Comments
Cinfhen So sad 😣ignorance is terrible 6y
Tanisha_A 🤯 6y
gradcat Wow! 😮 That‘s scary!! 6y
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Emory
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Pickpick

Started and finished this yesterday. It was exactly what I needed after binge listening to This Podcast Will Kill You and Mary Roach audiobooks.

RamsFan1963 I loved this book!! So funny in a dark way. 6y
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Amandajoy
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Eating dinner and reading about... leeches? Maybe not the best #dinnerandabook pick...

50 likes1 stack add
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Amandajoy
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Apparently, strychnine used to be used instead of Gatorade to help get through a grueling marathon. And water? Meh, not important. 😳🤦🏼‍♀️

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Amandajoy
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Settling in with a cup of tea & learning how good can cure your opinion habit, drunkenness, & neurasthenia (that‘s nervous exhaustion in case you‘re curious). Just a typical Wednesday evening. This book is slightly absurd & I‘m enjoying it.

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The.Intentional.Reader
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The title of this book alone is worth its weight! I‘ve always been interested in seeing the ummm “Creative” ways medicine has been practiced in the past.

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Ericalambbrown
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Mehso-so

My biggest issue with this book is that NOTHING is annotated. For any book claiming to be historical fact, this is a problem for me. There‘s no bibliography and no sourcing. Aside from that, it started off as snarky fun but ended up feeling like bad dad jokes on a long car trip. I did learn a lot that I didn‘t know previously, however, so I didn‘t feel it was a complete waste of time.

BarbaraTheBibliophage Argh! I would feel the same way! 6y
Ericalambbrown @BarbaraTheBibliophage Right? And it‘s just odd for an author to call out quackdom whilst neglecting to include proper academic citation. 🤣 6y
89 likes2 comments
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Ericalambbrown
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1) Tagged book and The Poisonwood Bible
2) Ravenclaw
3) The Punisher

#weekendreads

rachelsbrittain Thanks for joining in 💙🖤💙 6y
52 likes1 comment
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Megabooks
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Pickpick

A fun stroll through the history of bad ideas! The authors debunk all kinds of medical treatments from the 1950s all the way back to BCE. The book mainly focuses on European/white American fads. If you have a high tolerance for gross things and some curiosity, this book is for you. 4⭐️

#nonfiction2019 #somethingaboutlawormedicine

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Haha those quotes are great! 6y
Megabooks @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I highlighted so many more! It was truly hilarious and odd! (edited) 6y
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Ericalambbrown
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Well, this could certainly explain a lot. . . 🤣 Cocaine extract in wine, y‘all! 🍷 🍃

Weaponxgirl That‘s brilliant! 😂 6y
61 likes1 comment
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Amandajoy
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1. I took a picture of breakfast but forgot to post, so you get dinner too.
2. I‘ve bought four, this was one of them.
3. I think 33, but I feel it should be more.
4. The pretty, fancy ones. In addition to all the ones I want to read & cookbooks.
5. Not this year, but we‘re planning a big trip for 2020. My fiancé has never been overseas, any suggestion of where to go first?

#humpdaypost

BarbaraJean So exciting to plan a big trip! My husband had never been out of the USA until October—we went to the U.K. (England, Scotland, and Wales) and he loved it. And if you go to Wales, you could stop in at Hay-on-Wye, the Town of Books! 6y
39 likes1 comment
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Ericalambbrown
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This book is great! The sense of snark with which the author writes is glorious! It‘s pretty fascinating stuff. I‘m not getting through it as quickly as I‘d expected because I keep going off on little research tangents -it‘s so ridiculously interesting (if sometimes infuriating).

Elizabeth2 Hahahaha! 😂 6y
Megabooks Lololol 🤣🤣 thanks for the reminder to read this! 6y
BookNerd9906 🤣🤣🤣 6y
56 likes5 stack adds4 comments
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Ericalambbrown
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So true!

Weaponxgirl This is on my tbr list, it looks sooo good 6y
Ericalambbrown @Weaponxgirl It‘s funny and snarky and informative so far. 😊 I‘ve already giggled and learned a lot in the first two chapters 6y
RadicalReader @Ericalambbrown cannot wait to read this sounds like an interesting read my favorite types of reads lol 6y
63 likes3 comments
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Ericalambbrown
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Hurray for new Christmas books! D got me nine books! NINE! I feel like he got me ALL THE BOOKS 😊 This one I particularly love. He knows my love of medical history and my distaste for woo ridiculousness that makes no scientific sense. I‘m a lucky girl 🍀📚💕 #allthebooks #lovemyguy

Jee_HookedOnBookz Love the cover and the title! 😁 6y
Ericalambbrown @Jee_HookedOnBookz I can‘t wait to start it tonight 😊 It looks like it addresses a ton of woo peddler nonsense 6y
Jee_HookedOnBookz Wooooo!! (lame I know ahhaaha) Have fun!! 6y
See All 10 Comments
Reviewsbylola This sounds fascinating! 6y
Ericalambbrown @Reviewsbylola I think it will be - and with a healthy dose of snark, from what I‘m seeing so far, which I love 😊 6y
Crazeedi You are one lucky person! This book looks so cool I have to add! 6y
tracey38 Wow, that's a good amount of books! 6y
RadicalReader @Ericalambbrown every time I think of the word quack I think of how Betty Deville from Rugrats would always call Dr Lipschitz a quack still love the humor in wonderful Rugrats. Happier to know they‘re coming back on tv next year 6y
Ericalambbrown @RadicalReader I didn‘t know Rugrats was coming back! That‘s awesome! 😂 6y
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Amandajoy
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This quarters suggestions from MyTBR subscription. I went to go pick up one from Barnes and Noble, but they had none ☹️. Guess I won‘t be starting one this weekend. Have you read any of these selections? What did you think?

Librarybelle Quackery is fun! It‘s a little scary to think what we‘re considered remedies in the past. 6y
8little_paws Friday Black is fantastic 6y
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RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

This book is very funny in a snarky way, but I don't recommend reading it while eating because there's plenty of things within that will make you say Ewwwwww Gross!! 4 💥💥💥💥 out of 5.

BarbaraTheBibliophage This one is definitely on my TBR! 6y
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bookaddict86
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Pickpick

This is an interesting read