Badasses in (the History of) Science

Reply to DrixDZanth's fantastic "Badasses in Science: Episode 1."

The incredible true story of Doctor John Hunter, who went Loreana Bobbit on himself in the name of science. Would be scientific badasses take note.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• John
• Hunter
• Doctor
• disease
• history
• of
• medicine
• syphilis
• autoexperimentation
• badass
• science
• cockslicing
• Loreana
• Bobbit

[Disthron]

...so did he die from that?

[SisyphusRedeemed]

Nope, he lived for several years to come.

[Mjhavok]

Didn't Hunter's research into syphilis actually muddy the water for about 70 years. Also, is it really known that he infected himself?

[SisyphusRedeemed]

Well, he was wrong about syphilis and that certainly was a set back in terms of direct progress (I don't know about 70 years, though). But in the process he developed techniques and methods that empowered empirical surgery. And my source (Sherwin Nuland) seems pretty confident in the story.

[Mjhavok]

I have one of Sherwin's books. How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter. I haven't read it yet.

Any others you would recommend that you have read?

[SisyphusRedeemed]

"How We Die" is a great book. The book where he talks about Hunter is called "Doctors." The illustrated version is very cool. He also has one called "How We Live", but I haven't read that one yet.

[M1ST3RHYDE]

Are you REALLY Sure that is not the FSM?

[bdf2718]

Hah! If he cut his cock he was not ballsy, he was penisy. :p

[Disthron]

I have to say, when I was watching this video I really felt that it could have used that Maniac song as the background. Though the newer rock version not the one from the 80's.

[Mjhavok]

My source for the 70 years was Roy Porter's book THe Greatest Benefit to Mankind.: A Medical History of Humanity from Antiquity to the Present.

Yes, I am not saying he made no good contributions. He had many. One thing he did was amass thousands of anatomical and biological specimens that are now in the Hunterian museum of the Royal College of Surgeons. I think he also made contributions ot the study of teeth, digestion, inflammation and more.