Unbelievable Vintage Medical Photos That Will Haunt Even the Bravest Med Students

Ever wonder how folks managed to survive before modern medicine waved its miraculous wand? Well, buckle up, because the history of healing is filled with some downright bizarre contraptions and questionable cures that will make you thankful for antibiotics and MRIs. From giant metal tubes that breathed for polio patients to doctors literally tasting patients’ urine to figure out their sickness—yeah, you read that right!—the medical world in the past wasn’t just about herbs and prayers; it was a wild blend of creativity, hope, and sometimes utter madness. So, grab a comfy seat, brace yourself for some creepy and unconventional medical artifacts, and maybe keep a stress ball handy—you’ll want to upvote your favorites and share your own hair-raising tales of healthcare gone sideways. Ready to dive into this weird and wonderful world of historical medicine? LEARN MORE

Article created by: Eglė Bliabaitė

Medicine has really come a long way from the times in the past where you would, at best, get some herbs and a prayer if you were sufficiently sick or injured. But people still tried their best and even got creative, as medical museums around the world can show us.

We’ve gathered weird, creepy and unusual pictures of medical devices from the past. Be warned, some are a bit off-putting. So get comfortable, thank your lucky stars you were born in a time of modern medicine, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts and perhaps even experiences in the comments down below.

The Emerson Respirator

Created by John H. Emerson in 1931, the Emerson Respirator, or iron lung, was a large mechanical ventilator that helped polio patients suffering from respiratory paralysis breathe. A patient was placed inside the respirator with their head sticking out while air pressure changes in the inner chamber simulated breathing. More affordable and efficient than similar models of its kind, the Emerson respirator saved countless lives during the polio epidemics of the 1940s and 1950s.

National Museum of Health and Medicine , Wikipedia Report

Thalidomide

Throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, Thalidomide was marketed as a treatment for anxiety, insomnia, tension, and morning sickness during pregnancy. While initially considered safe, the medication led to thousands of miscarriages and more than 10,000 children being born with malformed limbs. Deemed to be the cause of the largest man‐made medical disaster in history, the medication was taken off the market in 1961.

Stephencdickson , Alvin Goodley Report

The Electro-Retinogram

The electroretinogram (ERG) is a test developed in the late 19th century to measure the retina’s response to light. The first electroretinograph machines from the 1870s required wires and electrodes to be placed directly on a patient’s eyes, giving them a scary cyborg-like appearance. The test became clinically useful in the mid-20th century and made use of improved, less intimidating devices to diagnose retinal diseases.

World Health Organization , Eye Wiki Report

Dr. Clark’s Spinal Apparatus

The spinal apparatus created by Dr Clark in the late 19th century was meant to treat scoliosis. It was designed to be a supportive wooden frame that would enable patients with the illness to walk upright. Allegedly, it was so heavy that patients could barely move in it, pretty much rendering it an ineffective treatment.

SirenaBonita , Pictolic Report

Hydrotherapy Tanks

During the 1950s polio epidemic, stainless steel hydrotherapy tanks, known as Hubbard tanks, were used as a form of rehabilitation for children paralyzed by the disease. Touted to improve circulation and build muscle strength, the treatment involved immersing a patient in warm water up to their neck. The combination of the water jets, buoyancy, and heat helped them move weak or paralyzed limbs more easily and with less pain. As polio rates declined and new rehabilitation methods emerged, the use of hydrotherapy tanks gradually tapered off after the 1950s.

Mennonite Church USA Archives , Bath Medical Museum Report

Pre-PET Headgear

This device was built by scientists at the Brookhaven Lab in 1961. Its main function was to detect brain tumors using positron emission. Initially, the headgear would only show the location of the tumors as raw data, but a decade later, researchers found a way to convert that data into actual images of the brain. By 1980, doctors could now observe brain function utilizing modern PET machines developed through extensive research done on the pre-PET headgear.

Brookhaven National Laboratory , Brookhaven National Laboratory Report

Vibration Therapy

While vibration therapy was a real treatment from the 1800s, it is alleged that this photo of a man taking a sledgehammer to another man’s head is nothing but a hoax. According to a book on vibration therapy from 1883, the actual treatment involved moving a brush lightly over the scalp in an orderly manner.