Curiosities in Medicine

Step into the fascinating world of medical history with the second edition of Curiosities in Medicine: Alphabetically, now featuring 20 new chapters, for a total of 100 captivating stories! This expanded collection takes you on a journey through the strange, surprising, and sometimes shocking tales that have shaped medicine as we know it.



Explore the peculiar, the profound, and the puzzling with entries like:

• Flying Babies? The unusual experiments of George Blonsky.

• Helium for Performance: The unexpected use of gas in an athletic enema.

• Poppies: Beautiful but Toxic – and Healthy? The dual nature of opium’s legacy.

• Mozart’s Chocolate Connection: A surprising link between Vesalius, Mozart, and everyone’s favorite treat.

• Urine: The Golden Elixir: Medicine’s strange fascination with this bodily fluid.

• Epilepsy: Divine or Demonic? How perceptions of the condition have evolved through the ages.

• Methamphetamine and Soldiers: The role of stimulants in wartime.



These new chapters join beloved stories from the first edition, bringing fresh insights into the weird and wonderful world of medical history. Each chapter is a standalone adventure, written in an accessible and engaging style that invites readers of all backgrounds to explore the quirks of medicine through the ages.



From Helen Keller’s crusade for the blind to Voltaire’s scandalous brew, this updated collection is perfect for curious minds, history buffs, and medical enthusiasts alike. Whether you’re intrigued by ancient remedies, strange experiments, or the lives of historical figures, Curiosities in Medicine: Alphabetically promises to entertain, enlighten, and inspire.



Prepare to laugh, gasp, and marvel at the stories that reveal the astonishing creativity, resilience, and oddities of the human pursuit of healing. This second edition will leave you questioning what you thought you knew about the history of medicine.



Curiosities in Medicine: Alphabetical – Where history meets the unexpected.