Something Funny

“The History of Medicine”

“I have an earache…”

  • 2000 BC: “Here eat this root.”
  • AD 1000: “That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer.”
  • AD 1850: “That prayer is superstition. Here, drink this potion.”
  • AD 1940: “That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill.”
  • AD 1985: “That pill is ineffective. Here, take this antibiotic.”
  • AD 2000: “That antibiotic is unnatural. Here, eat this root.”

(New Scientist, 6 September 1997)

Note, in the above progression, the root was the longest tried and true solution and then was merely decried as heathen. Nothing about its ineffectiveness 🙂

Peace,
-Steve

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