Among users of social networks, an image is popular, which supposedly shows the work of the brainfront of the late XIX century. We checked the reliability of such publications.
On social networks, a photograph is regularly published, which allegedly captures how a person with an iron boiler puts on his head puts his head on the anvil, and the other man hit the pot with a hammer. Often this image is accompanied by a signature such as “treatment of headaches in 1895” or “at a reception with a psychologist, 1895”. They share many large publics on VKontakte, among which "5 interesting facts" (4.4 million subscribers at the time of writing this analysis), "Advertising masterpieces" (2.5 million subscribers), World of History (2 million subscribers) and "This is interesting!" (1.4 million subscribers). The picture is also published by users Twitter, "Classmates", Facebook* and other social networks.
The image became popular not only in Runet, but also in other segments of the World Wide Web. However, the most common signature for him in English was slightly different-the picture was signed as the “Method of Treatment of a headache from the 1890s, known as“ Vibration Therapy ”” (Headache Treatment in 1890s Known As Vibration Therapy). Viral posts from different social networks attracted the attention of our colleagues from American factskeeping projects, including Snopes, Politifact And Lead Stories.
Foreign factor co -chorers converge in the fact that the depicted procedure has nothing to do with “vibration therapy”. The method with such a name really existed at the end of the 19th century, but its essence was not in any way in putting on the patient’s head a pot or pot and a hammer. So, doctor Joseph Granwil in 1883 Described The use of the brush that was moved on the scalp (with hands or using a special device).
The conclusions of our colleagues were also supported by numerous historians of medicine. For example, Snopes contacted Stephen Casper, professor at Clarkson University and the author of the book on the history of neurology in the UK. Casper declaredthat already at the end of the 19th century, doctors knew about the negative effects of loud sounds on the health of the human brain, so the picture could not illustrate the real medical procedure. In a conversation with Lead Stories Researcher noted: “I think this image is a joke, probably created from the pictures on each other. <...> It very well depicts what, in our opinion, there was medicine in "old unkind times." This is more about what we want to believe in than what has ever happened. ”
His colleagues also agree with the Casper. For example, David Jones from Harvard University reported Snopes: "I have never heard of treatment (legal or quackery), which would include the methods shown." His supported and Melissa Grave, head of the Medical Historical Library of Yale University.
Like our colleagues, we were not able to find the source of this picture. At the same time, you can quite accurately establish that in Russian -speaking social networks it has become popular relatively recently. The earliest posts using this image appeared in "VKontakte" And on Facebook* at the beginning of 2018. Around the same time, the picture began to be placed on different forums. We were not able to find it in academic publications or on the sites of thematic museums.
*Russian authorities They think Meta Platforms Inc., which owns the social network Facebook, an extremist organization; Its activities in Russia are prohibited.
Not true
- Snopes. An 1895 Headache Treatment Called ‘Vibration Therapy’?
- Politifact. Vibration Therapy Is Real, But Does Not look Like this Photo
- Leadstories. Fact Check: Photo does not show "Vibration Therapy" Treatment in 1890s
- Is it true that a popular photograph shows an anesthetist of the XIX century?
- Is it true that the photo depicts the seller of intimate wigs in the 19th century?
If you find a spelling or grammatical error, please inform us of this, highlighting the text with an error and by pressing Ctrl+Enter.
