This is the same mentality that Dr. Semmelweis encountered when he tried to prove to his fellow 19th century physicians that washing their hands before delivering babies would reduce cases of sepsis (spoiler alert: he died in an insane asylum). Logic, evidence, and human life doesn't matter to these sociopathic con artists. All that matt…
This is the same mentality that Dr. Semmelweis encountered when he tried to prove to his fellow 19th century physicians that washing their hands before delivering babies would reduce cases of sepsis (spoiler alert: he died in an insane asylum). Logic, evidence, and human life doesn't matter to these sociopathic con artists. All that matters is that they never have to admit they were wrong.
Witch-trials were based on mass-hysteria, superstition, the flawed assumption that children don't lie (we still have a special word in swedish denoting children telling lies they themselves believe in, and who in turn are believed solely on the basis on being children: visgossar, meaning "wise boys", but also "boys singing tall tales"), the laws regarding heterodoxy, apostasy and so on, and last but in no way least secular law being heavily influenced by Moaic law via the Bible.
The entire thing had more or less petered out by the end of the 17th century, though there were stray cases that virtually never led to more than a round of questioning for the sake of form, and in 1779 capital punishment for "Compact with Satan" (which was the actual crime people were accused of) was abolished.
And mostly, the clergy was opposed to the whole thing since it led people to believe Satan actually held real power and could affect the faithful - not the message they wanted to convey.
I was using "witch" very liberally to represent women skilled in herbal/botanical remedies and the threat they were to professional doctoring, and not specifically. But the image of the creepy old lady in the woods really grew from clever old ladies in the or with access to the woods who had ways of independent thinking.
Abortifacients were well-known and used before the Church came in with its suppressions of dangerous knowledge that was extremely useful to women.
Of course plenty of "traditional" therapeutic practices were awful, but plenty of others were based on common sense. You look at those birthing stools from the olden days. Every time I see one of those damned scenes in a movie/TV show of a woman in labor, screaming from her supine position stuck in a bed and the doctors thwarting gravity at every turn, I really get pissed off. I'm no fan of the home birth movement, and good medical care with every necessary tool available in case it's needed at a second's notice is something I strongly approve of, but there's always some modern "improvement" that ain't.
"Independent thinking" has ALWAYS been a crime. Punishment, of course, has varied slightly over time, from the medieval boiling in oil, or the traditional burning at the stake, to the modern "cancelation". But the goal has ALWAYS been to eliminate independent thought. The "witches" of yore were tortured because what they did often WORKED. Which is more than could be said of the practices of the medical establishment of the day!
My wife chose to have home births for our babies. Originally, I was skeptical as well, sharing your opinion of medical care, but the experience completely changed my mind. As home birth advocates often say, "if you aren't sick, you shouldn't go to a hospital."
My dads cast was cut off by his teacher in the 40’s. You’re lucky you only got yelled at. His teacher wasn’t so lucky, she got knocked out by my grandfather. Apparently she didn’t realize he was Irish. 😂
Can you imagine that the dean of the university bearing his name was a huge covid nazi? Also being the first to introduce mandatory quakcination to continue medical studies on this university?
This is the same mentality that Dr. Semmelweis encountered when he tried to prove to his fellow 19th century physicians that washing their hands before delivering babies would reduce cases of sepsis (spoiler alert: he died in an insane asylum). Logic, evidence, and human life doesn't matter to these sociopathic con artists. All that matters is that they never have to admit they were wrong.
https://dystopianliving.substack.com/p/healthcare-has-a-munchausen-by-proxy
"Medicine" was built on burning witches i.e. wise women so the guys could take over and form guilds. They never looked back.
That's myth with no basis in fact.
Witch-trials were based on mass-hysteria, superstition, the flawed assumption that children don't lie (we still have a special word in swedish denoting children telling lies they themselves believe in, and who in turn are believed solely on the basis on being children: visgossar, meaning "wise boys", but also "boys singing tall tales"), the laws regarding heterodoxy, apostasy and so on, and last but in no way least secular law being heavily influenced by Moaic law via the Bible.
The entire thing had more or less petered out by the end of the 17th century, though there were stray cases that virtually never led to more than a round of questioning for the sake of form, and in 1779 capital punishment for "Compact with Satan" (which was the actual crime people were accused of) was abolished.
And mostly, the clergy was opposed to the whole thing since it led people to believe Satan actually held real power and could affect the faithful - not the message they wanted to convey.
And men were accused in equal amounts.
I was using "witch" very liberally to represent women skilled in herbal/botanical remedies and the threat they were to professional doctoring, and not specifically. But the image of the creepy old lady in the woods really grew from clever old ladies in the or with access to the woods who had ways of independent thinking.
Abortifacients were well-known and used before the Church came in with its suppressions of dangerous knowledge that was extremely useful to women.
Of course plenty of "traditional" therapeutic practices were awful, but plenty of others were based on common sense. You look at those birthing stools from the olden days. Every time I see one of those damned scenes in a movie/TV show of a woman in labor, screaming from her supine position stuck in a bed and the doctors thwarting gravity at every turn, I really get pissed off. I'm no fan of the home birth movement, and good medical care with every necessary tool available in case it's needed at a second's notice is something I strongly approve of, but there's always some modern "improvement" that ain't.
"Independent thinking" has ALWAYS been a crime. Punishment, of course, has varied slightly over time, from the medieval boiling in oil, or the traditional burning at the stake, to the modern "cancelation". But the goal has ALWAYS been to eliminate independent thought. The "witches" of yore were tortured because what they did often WORKED. Which is more than could be said of the practices of the medical establishment of the day!
My wife chose to have home births for our babies. Originally, I was skeptical as well, sharing your opinion of medical care, but the experience completely changed my mind. As home birth advocates often say, "if you aren't sick, you shouldn't go to a hospital."
Whatever works for the individual, sure. But those advocates are being specious in what they say. Fanaticism in anything is never good.
Here you go again, R - ruining a perfectly good myth with facts. Next thing we know, you'll be questioning "the science", or something.
Great article. Thank you.
Just like 20th century men to blame it on ergotism. https://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1037.htm
Alfred Wegner got laughed out of Polite Geologist Society for suggesting Plate Techtonics might explain earthquakes.
I got yelled at by my 2nd grade teacher (almost 50 years ago) for saying the continents look like they go together like a puzzle
My dads cast was cut off by his teacher in the 40’s. You’re lucky you only got yelled at. His teacher wasn’t so lucky, she got knocked out by my grandfather. Apparently she didn’t realize he was Irish. 😂
Epic!
Why am I not surprised ...
Let's not even talk about what happened to Luc Montagnier when he presented evidence that supported the premise of homeopathic medicine.
Did he have evidence? Link? Thank you.
YES!!! I've bombed people with Semmelweis for 3 years.....crickets.....narcicissm, cowardice and overall stupidity.
Me, too.
https://markoshinskie8de.substack.com/p/garage-rockers-and-covid-censorship
Can you imagine that the dean of the university bearing his name was a huge covid nazi? Also being the first to introduce mandatory quakcination to continue medical studies on this university?
Poor Semmelweis must be turning in his grave...
Great article. Thank you.