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The Infinite Monkey Cage
An Unexpected History of the Body
Dec 25, 2024
Join Prof. Helen King, an expert in medical history, Sir Mark Walport, a physician with an adventurous spirit (and x-rays of his own feces!), and Keith Moore, librarian of the Royal Society, as they explore the bizarre history of the human body. They delve into outrageous beliefs, from wandering wombs to tobacco enemas. Expect laughter while examining how past misconceptions shaped our understanding of anatomy. The trio also reveals daring self-experiments that propelled scientific discoveries forward!
42:25
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Quick takeaways
- Historical misconceptions about the body, such as the wandering womb theory, illustrate the evolving understanding and challenges in women's health narratives.
- Self-experimentation, exemplified by Barry Marshall's ingestion of Helicobacter pylori, has significantly advanced medical science and challenged outdated beliefs.
Deep dives
Historical Misconceptions About the Human Body
Throughout history, various misconceptions about the human body have persisted, with some even enduring into the 20th century. One notable belief was that gastric ulcers were mainly caused by stress, a theory widely accepted until the mid-1980s when research revealed the role of a bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori. Similarly, there were bizarre practices linked to gender prediction during childbirth, where beliefs suggested that a mother’s position and the tying of a man's testicle could influence the baby's sex. These examples illustrate both the outdated notions surrounding medical understanding and the dramatic shifts in knowledge that have occurred over time.
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Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode