Just What the Doctor Ordered

This week I’m working on a piece about Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to graduate from medical school (Geneva College, 1849).

Well, my research has got me thinking about all of those “crazy” medical practices of the 19^th century —

Narcotics for cranky babies

A little dab of mercury to heal those nasty cuts

And of course, leeches…

Lots and lots of leeches.

What could possibly go wrong?

We've certainly come a long way.

We’re so much more sophisticated these days…

Botox to banish those nasty wrinkles!

Yeah, BO as in botulism — a sometimes-fatal foodborne illness.

What could possibly go wrong?

Here’s a tip —

If a word has the letters T-O-X in it, in precisely that order, it’s probably not good for you.

Just sayin’.

And now I’m seeing all of those nifty ads for the new male Fountain of Youth— Testosterone!

Yeah, what the world needs now is a bunch of 70-year-old men hopped up on the big T like 15-year-old boys.

What could possibly go wrong?

PROMPT: Every character probably consults a physician at one time or another. Go ahead and prescribe one of  the latest medical “crazes.” What could possibly…

Yeah.

Write on!