The Cannibal In The Apothecary: 300 Years of Corpse Medicine
Summary
Host Alison Horrocks explores the history of corpse medicine, where Europeans consumed human remains like mummy powder and executed men’s blood as legitimate pharmaceuticals from the 16th to 19th centuries. The episode contrasts this mainstream practice with colonial accusations of cannibalism against indigenous peoples, highlighting the hypocrisy of using bodies of the poor and marginalized. It concludes by examining modern parallels, including cadaver-derived growth hormone risks and the ethical legacy of Henrietta Lacks, emphasizing that consent remains the critical distinction between m…
Topics discussed
Intro and Charles II's death and King's Drops
Introduction to 300 years of corpse medicine
Mumia, bitumen, and the mummy misunderstanding
The fraudulent mummy trade in Alexandria
Paracelsus and the theory of vital spirits
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Drinking executed men's blood for epilepsy
Official pharmacopeias and famous scientists
Mummy unwrapping shows and Mummy Brown paint
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The Mellified Man and colonial hypocrisy
Decline of corpse medicine and anatomy acts
Modern uses: implants, plasma, and prion diseases
Consent issues: body brokers and Henrietta Lacks
Conclusion and final ads
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