Dr Alanna Skuse

Dr. Alanna Skuse, a historian of early modern healthcare and author of 'The Surgeon, the Midwife and the Quack', delves into the medical practices of 16th and 17th century England. She reveals how quacks and wise women sometimes offered better care than physicians. The conversation explores bizarre treatments, including cross-species blood transfusions, as well as innovative surgeries like the arm-to-face skin graft. Alanna also discusses holistic approaches to health, the notorious Bedlam hospital, and the ethical dilemmas of early medical experimentation.