Things People Did To Their Bodies In The Past That Are As Interesting As They Are Terrifying

If you think modern medicine is weird, just wait until you hear this next bizarre treatment. In the 19th century, people on Australia’s southern coast believed that sitting inside a rotting whale carcass was an effective treatment for rheumatism. Yes, you read that right.

The idea was that the rotting flesh and bones of the whale would somehow alleviate the symptoms of rheumatism and other joint pains. It’s hard to imagine how anyone could have thought that sitting inside a rotting whale carcass was a good idea, but at the time, it was seen as a cutting-edge treatment.