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Sometimes you look at the modern world, and it seems that it has turned upside down. People allow themselves unthinkable things, while they absolutely do not want to be responsible for their actions. It’s good that the legislation remains on guard of justice and limits, restrains people’s desire to do who knows what.
Unfortunately, long before the reign of justice, our history managed to accumulate many examples of negative experience. Every now and then, some countries, regions or specific people practiced forbidden things in their activities. Toys with high levels of radiation, cages for “containing” babies, life-threatening medicine and overt drug treatment – all this was not so long ago common and even commonplace for humanity.
We present you the TOP 10 amazing and unpleasant things that in the old days were considered the norm and were not surprising.
10 garden hermits
What has not changed over the years is the capriciousness, eccentricity and eccentric behavior of the rich. People in power and with money are trendsetters, which, at times, exploit the interests of others. For example, back in the 18th century, the elite could afford to settle in a garden or park a personal “hermit”, who was forced to put on rags and look like a real sage in search of truth. It was impossible for a person to take care of himself and perform elementary hygiene procedures, and a grotto created by hands served as his home. Wealthy hosts showed such a living “decoration” to their guests, which supposedly helped to emphasize status and power.
9. Questionable treatments
A few centuries ago, medicine was so different from modern medicine that it often maimed patients rather than cured them. To eliminate symptoms or diseases, experiments and the most unexpected solutions were allowed, ranging from bloodletting (helped cleanse the blood of pathogens) and ending with electroshock therapy. For the treatment of psychological diseases, a lobotomy was considered a generally accepted method, which disrupted the brain and made a “vegetable” out of the patient. And for stuttering and other problems with speech, cutting or circumcision of the tongue was actively used. At the famous orthopedist Sayre, some operations on the musculoskeletal system often ended in death.
8. “Entertaining excursions” to insane asylums
Now on YouTube, people enjoy watching various “freaks” and their crazy adventures. Believe me, the previously uneducated people, who loved to kill time, amused themselves no less perversely. For example, it was normal to have an entertaining trip to mental hospitals, where you could look at crazy people for a fee. Patients were treated horribly – they used physical force, did not feed them, stuffed them with experimental drugs, tested methods of electric shock and lobotomy, despite the fact that the stay was paid for by relatives. The owners of the clinics decided to organize a business on sick people, offering tourists to stare at them for a certain fee and even poke them with a stick, like in animals.
7. Cocaine treatment
Now this substance is considered one of the most serious drugs that has a devastating effect on the human psyche, its internal systems and the brain, and forms a strong addiction. But a century ago, cocaine was not only harmless, but also healing, so it was sold freely in pharmacies. It could be purchased over the counter and given even to babies, which made it possible to calm the nervous system and make it easier to fall asleep, get rid of nervousness and crying. Cocaine also allegedly helped to eliminate pain and even cure a cough. Various preparations, solutions and drops containing drugs were widely advertised to the public.
6. Collecting body parts
Collecting something is a completely healthy hobby that develops a person, makes him more attentive to details, makes him learn new things and look for additional information about the desired object. But what about a person who consciously chooses to collect human body parts? Psychopath? Nevertheless, once such a hobby was familiar and even fashionable among elite circles. Gentlemen and ladies organized real cabinets of curiosities in the mansions, collecting “Frankensteins” or simply amusing exhibits (organs, body parts, embryos, etc.). Soldiers from military campaigns dragged the skull of the enemy into the house.
5. human zoos
Many have heard about the famous “Circus of Freaks”, where people with physical disabilities, strange pathologies, manners and habits were shown to the public for money. Such entertainment was appreciated not only by the elite, but also by the common people. In addition, human zoos were invented, where Asians and Africans were offered to uneducated people as curiosities – people of a different race and appearance. Often they were exhibited along with monkeys, which supposedly made it possible to prove Darwin’s theory. It is noteworthy that such a shameful practice persisted right up to 1958.
4. Sending children by mail
Now grandmothers on the benches scold young mothers who do not follow the running baby, do not blow on a broken knee and do not wipe their hands from the sand. What would they say to the “children’s mail”, which was relevant and common in the States at the beginning of the last century? Parents could absolutely legally and officially send the little one to relatives by mail, paying for this quite affordable price – 15 cents. It is surprising that the child was treated like a load, because for the “crossing” babies were accepted with a certain weight corresponding to the standard package.
3. Radioactive toys
Continuing the children’s theme, let’s mention the unhealthy toys that were quietly sold in the store. Back in the 50s of the last century, the true essence and subtleties of radiation were not reliably studied, so it did not pose a danger as such. Children were offered mini-laboratories and special “atomic” toys, which were designed to educate a future researcher or researcher in a child. Popular kits contained real radioactive substances – uranium and polonium, albeit in microdoses.
2. Smoking during pregnancy on prescription
Doctors of the past did not think that smoking was so bad for the expectant mother that she should immediately give up the bad habit. Literally seven decades ago, notorious American scientists advised pregnant women to smoke as a prevention of constipation and other unpleasant consequences of an “interesting situation”. At the same time, the woman who gave birth calmly smoked right in the ward, without causing irritation to doctors or other mothers. “But what about lactation?”, You ask. In fact, the Americans were so busy planting tobacco culture and the degeneration of the nation that such “little things” did not even bother them.
1. Window cages for babies
Treating children as a burden is just the tip of the iceberg. It was quite a humane event for parents to keep their own babies “in custody”. In the 30s in England, wire cages were installed on the windows of houses and balconies, where babies were placed for a “walk” in the fresh air. The children sunbathed and played with their favorite toys, while the parents took care of household chores.
Here are some interesting facts of history that took place several centuries ago. This once again confirms the idea that only healthy information and the all-round development of each person can really promote culture and save nations from degeneration.