The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth

History shows us that the journey to modern medicine was riddled with bizarre practices, baffling cures, and astonishing resilience. Would you survive exploding teeth or a frying pan to the scalp?

1. Identifying diseases in the past was an unsolved riddle

Doctors from earlier centuries struggled mightily to identify and categorize diseases, especially with their limited knowledge of biology and pathology. In 1893, the International Classification of Diseases listed only 161 disorders, showcasing just how little was known compared to the over 12,000 diseases cataloged a hundred years later.

One example of this lack of understanding is the mysterious phenomenon of "exploding teeth." Described by Pennsylvania dentist W. H. Atkinson, patients complained of intense, unrelenting tooth pain that ended in a loud explosion as their tooth shattered. This bizarre problem seemed so real that multiple accounts were documented, yet no universally accepted explanation has emerged.

Theories ranged from chemical reactions to electrical charges, though some skeptics believed these patients exaggerated what might have been ordinary dental fractures. Regardless, cases like these illustrate how puzzling medical anomalies were beyond the grasp of even the most experienced doctors.

Examples

• Patients reported teeth shattering with a sound like a gunshot.
• A dentist in 1874 documented a woman rendered temporarily deaf after her tooth "exploded."
• Explanations such as chemical-filled cavities or electrical buildups have not resolved the mystery.

2. The human tendency to insert objects into the body is surprisingly old

Throughout history, people have unintentionally found themselves in medical emergency rooms due to foreign objects lodged in their bodies. Whether out of desperation, foolishness, or accident, these cases have long puzzled and entertained medical professionals.

One tale from 1724 describes a teenager who, in an attempt to relieve constipation, inserted a six-inch ivory-handled fork into his body – only to accidentally lose it. The resulting medical extraction left many in disbelief at the lengths people would go to for self-remedy.

Such incidents weren't confined to reckless experiments. A drunken sailor in the late 1700s swallowed 35 pocket knives over several years, inspired by a French performer's knife-swallowing act. Unsurprisingly, this stunt led to fatal organ damage. Cases like these highlight the unusual risks humans sometimes take with their bodies.

Examples

• A 19-year-old apprentice lost a fork internally while treating constipation.
• A sailor fatally swallowed 35 knives after imitating a performer.
• Historical medical journals documented similar cases across centuries.

3. Early cures often harmed more than they healed

Medical treatments in the past were often rooted in tradition rather than science. As a result, many so-called remedies caused more suffering than the ailments they were meant to address. Bloodletting, a widespread practice, involved withdrawing a patient's blood to treat anything from fever to nausea.

The story of Lord Anthony Grey exemplifies this. Collapsing during a game of bowls in the early 1700s, he was declared dead but became the subject of every outdated "remedy" in the book. From bloodletting to blistering his scalp with a hot frying pan, Lord Grey's lifeless body underwent hours of invasive procedures before Dr. Goodall officially pronounced him dead.

Such futile measures were common in the absence of evidence-backed methods. The rigid trust in ill-founded practices often left patients worse off or, as in Lord Grey's case, added indignity to death.

Examples

• Bloodletting was thought to cure everything, despite evidence to the contrary.
• Lord Grey endured bizarre attempts at revival: fried scalp and pipe smoke "treatments."
• Outdated methods were commonly trusted even without scientific support.

4. Surgery was as terrifying as the diseases it confronted

Before the advent of anesthesia and antiseptics, surgery was often viewed as a last resort due to the extreme pain and high death rates. The case of Hoo Loo, a Chinese laborer, showcases the desperation and lack of precautions in early surgery.

Suffering from elephantiasis, Hoo Loo sought help in London, only to become the subject of a risky surgery performed before an audience of 680 spectators. Despite the supposed expertise of the surgeons, the operation resulted in massive blood loss, killing him on the table.

This failure marked a turning point for the medical community, forcing them to question the ethics and safety of undertaking heroic but reckless surgical interventions.

Examples

• Hoo Loo underwent an unsuccessful surgery for elephantiasis.
• Surgeries before anesthesia involved unbearable pain.
• Massive infections often followed due to poor hygiene practices.

5. The human body is more resilient than we assume

While many medical conditions in the past ended tragically, stories of survival against all odds also emerged. Some individuals endured injuries that seem almost impossible to survive.

Take Thomas Tipple, who survived being impaled by a carriage shaft that pierced through his chest. Miraculously, he walked away and lived another 11 years. Similarly, a Frenchman drove a dagger into his skull in a suicide attempt, only to feel embarrassed rather than injured. It took a steam engine to finally dislodge the weapon, and he left the hospital no worse for wear.

These cases underline the surprising durability of the human body, even when subjected to extreme harm.

Examples

• Thomas Tipple survived a carriage shaft skewering him from chest to back.
• A Frenchman hammered a dagger into his skull but walked unharmed.
• Tales like these upended assumptions about human fragility.

6. Fake medicine tells its own intriguing tale

The history of quackery and fake medicine is as captivating as legitimate advancements. Doctors sometimes spun fanciful stories that bordered on fiction, either through error or outright fabrication.

One popular yarn involved Margaret Larsdotten, who reportedly survived three whole days submerged underwater. Another described a Swede who returned unscathed after 16 hours underwater in frozen conditions. While these stories now seem absurd, they captured the imaginations of readers and lent false authority to dubious medical claims.

Even esteemed figures like William Harvey, a pioneer in understanding blood circulation, were occasionally fooled by exaggerated tales, such as the claim that Thomas Parr lived to be 152 years old.

Examples

• Fabricated tales about people surviving underwater for days became popular.
• Thomas Parr's supposed longevity fooled even educated doctors.
• Early journals blended science with sensationalism to capture interest.

Takeaways

1. Be critical of medical advice, even if it's widely accepted; history shows how science evolves.
2. Appreciate modern advancements in hygiene, anesthesia, and diagnosis, which save countless lives today.
3. Remain curious yet skeptical of extraordinary claims, as even experts can be misled by false narratives.