Quackery
By Nate Pedersen & Lydia Kang
A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything. Workman Publishing, 2017.
Summary of Quackery book by Nate Pedersen & Lydia Kang
Tales of shocking scams, deadly treatments, and the doctors who prescribed them, all for the sake of youth, beauty, and good health—if it was weird, wacky, or dangerous, chances are someone has tried it.
Chapters in Quackery book summary
What do you get from this book? Curious tales about the peculiar behaviors of quacks and their patients
Quacks prey on desperate people, feeding them lies in order to sell fake—and dangerous—products
Mercury and antimony were deadly elements and extremely popular medicines due to their purging abilities
Poisons with misleading health claims like arsenic could kill quickly, while some false addiction cures were at least harmless
Radium and radon killed slowly, causing the very types of cancer it was supposed to cure
Just because something is all natural doesn’t mean it’s safe to ingest
While plant-based remedies can be harmful, soil-based pills can neutralize some toxins
Of all the dangerous treatments performed on patients, bloodletting and lobotomies may be the most disturbing
Cauterization was extremely painful, enemas were just uncomfortable, and hydrotherapy actually had some benefit
The history of surgery and anesthesia is disturbing, considering how many people suffered in the name of progress
Drinking blood is natural for a leech, and as it turns out, not so uncommon for humans either
Snake oil might be harmless but fasting could be fatal—what about pelvic massages?
The healing power of electricity, animal magnetism, and light can be real, but is often psychological
Although radio waves are very real, their healing powers are as questionable as the “king’s touch”
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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Quackery — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read Quackery book
- doctors and nurses
- med students
- those fascinated by dark and morbid stories
- anyone interested in medical history
About the author of Quackery
Nate Pedersen
Lydia Kang is an internal medicine specialist and the former chief resident of New York University's Department of Medicine. She later served as attending physician at Bellevue Hospital. Nate Pedersen is a freelance writer and historian, managing the Archival and Reference Team at Georgia Historical Society. His work has been featured in publications such as The Guardian and The Believer.
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