• IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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    4 months ago

    I always remind myself that way back then … if you happened to cut yourself badly, there was a high likelihood that you could lose a limb or die from infection. They had treatments for stuff and they could be careful but all you needed was a chance infection (that is easily protected against today) and you could end up severely affecting your life or dying.

    • Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      4 months ago

      Even just a prick from a thorn while outside could give you tetanus, which was a super shitty way to die. People’s muscles spasmed so hard they could literally break their own bones.

      Be sure to get your booster shot every 10 years!

    • Baku
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      4 months ago

      Hell, even half of their “treatments” ended up making the problem worse or killing you even quicker

      • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
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        4 months ago

        One common treatment for chickenpox was to drill a hole in the skull. Shockingly this wasn’t very helpful

        • grrgyle@slrpnk.net
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          4 months ago

          But drilling a hole in your head did solve some other problems like brain swelling, so without knowing better and having no alternatives, I could see why one would try

          • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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            4 months ago

            It would have dealt with the swelling immediately but chances are the patient would have died from infection from the operation.