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.

List View
Player View
Grid View

1.
Masks worn by doctors during the Plague. The beaks held scented substances to mask the scent of death and dying.
2.
"Dissection room at a medical school in Bordeaux, France." Circa 1890
3.
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
4.
Corset damage to a ribcage. 19th century London
5.
Dr. Kilmer's Female Remedy
6.
Tanning babies at the Chicago Orphan Asylum, 1925, to offset winter rickets
7.
Selection of some items used to disguise facial injuries. Early plastic surgery.
8.
Woman with an artificial leg, too embarrassed to show her face c. 1890-1900
9.
Wooden prosthetic hand, c. 1800
10.
Blood transfusion bottle, England 1978
11.
Dr. Clark's Spinal Apparatus advertisement, 1878
12.
Neurological exam with electrical device, c. 1884
13.
Antique prosthetic leg
14.
"Walter Reed physiotherapy store" 1920's
15.
US Civil War surgeon's kit
16.
Boy in rolling "invalid cart" c. 1915
17.
Obstetric phantom, Italy 1700-1800. Tool to teach medical students and midwives about childbirth
18.
Radioactive yummies
19.
Claude Becks early defibulator
20.
Antique birthing chair used until the 1800s
21.
Knives for surgery, China, 1801-1920.
22.
Anatomical Model. Doctors were not allowed to touch the women's bodies, so they would point to describe pain locations
23.
Radiology nurse technician, WWI France 1918
24.
1855-1860. One of first surgical procedures using ether as an anesthetic
25.
Rush Medical College lecture auditorium, 1900, Chicago
26.
Lewis Sayre's scoliosis treatment
27.
28.
Leonid Rogozov, the only surgeon on an Antarctic expedition, performing surgery on himself after suffering from appendicitis. April 30, 1961
29.

1.
Masks worn by doctors during the Plague. The beaks held scented substances to mask the scent of death and dying.
2.
"Dissection room at a medical school in Bordeaux, France." Circa 1890
3.
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
4.
Corset damage to a ribcage. 19th century London
5.
Dr. Kilmer's Female Remedy
6.
Tanning babies at the Chicago Orphan Asylum, 1925, to offset winter rickets
7.
Selection of some items used to disguise facial injuries. Early plastic surgery.
8.
Woman with an artificial leg, too embarrassed to show her face c. 1890-1900
9.
Wooden prosthetic hand, c. 1800
10.
Blood transfusion bottle, England 1978
11.
Dr. Clark's Spinal Apparatus advertisement, 1878
12.
Neurological exam with electrical device, c. 1884
13.
Antique prosthetic leg
14.
"Walter Reed physiotherapy store" 1920's
15.
US Civil War surgeon's kit
16.
Boy in rolling "invalid cart" c. 1915
17.
Obstetric phantom, Italy 1700-1800. Tool to teach medical students and midwives about childbirth
18.
Radioactive yummies
19.
Claude Becks early defibulator
20.
Antique birthing chair used until the 1800s
21.
Knives for surgery, China, 1801-1920.
22.
Anatomical Model. Doctors were not allowed to touch the women's bodies, so they would point to describe pain locations
23.
Radiology nurse technician, WWI France 1918
24.
1855-1860. One of first surgical procedures using ether as an anesthetic
25.
Rush Medical College lecture auditorium, 1900, Chicago
26.
Lewis Sayre's scoliosis treatment
27.
28.
Leonid Rogozov, the only surgeon on an Antarctic expedition, performing surgery on himself after suffering from appendicitis. April 30, 1961
29.