Mental Floss

MEDICINE

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The Real Case of Spontaneous Combustion That Inspired a Death in Dickens's Bleak House

Dickens believed humans could spontaneously combust—and he had Cornelia di Bandi's death as proof.

A Dr. Dettweiler sputum flask, circa 1910

The Anti-Spitting Campaigns Designed to Stop the Spread of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis patients were asked to carry their phlegm around all day in a flask.

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8 Cures That Did More Harm Than Good

Sometimes the treatment is worse than the condition itself.

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What's the Difference Between a Break and a Fracture?

The answer might surprise you.

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The iPhone Shortcut That Can Direct You to the Nearest ER in an Emergency

You're not always thinking clearly in an emergency. Let your phone do some of the work for you.

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Some Flea and Tick Medications Are Causing Seizures In Cats and Dogs, the FDA Warns

Here are the brands to look for.

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20 Killer Words Every True Crime Buff Should Know

Brush up on some medical and legal jargon before your next true crime binge.

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12 Facts About Fibromyalgia

Pain ranges from sharp stabbing to a pins-and-needle sensation.

Young John the Baptist, Leonardo da Vinci (1513-16, Louvre, Paris).

Could Leonardo da Vinci's Artistic Genius Be Due to an Eye Condition?

The brilliant painter and inventor may have been cross-eyed.

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What You Need to Know About Acute Flaccid Myelitis, the Polio-Like Disease That's Spreading in Kids

Doctors don't know what causes it or how to treat it.

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How the Hubble Space Telescope Helped the Fight Against Breast Cancer

NASA technologies have dozens of applications outside of space exploration.

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The Most Googled Health Symptoms in Each State

Wisconsin has a green poop problem.

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Benjamin Franklin and History's Most Dangerous Musical Instrument

The glass armonica was Benjamin Franklin's biggest contribution to the world of music—and then it started to kill people.

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10 Facts About Rosacea

A recent study found that an estimated 415 million people worldwide suffer from the disorder.

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The Surgeon Who Removed His Own Appendix

They call it the "practice" of medicine for a reason.

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Why You Should Be Wary of Prescription Drug Ads on TV

The persuasive ads can run afoul of FDA regulations and may not be telling you the whole story.

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Ig Nobel Prizes Honor Self-Colonoscopies and Kidney Stone-Dislodging Roller Coasters

These were the most unusual scientific studies of the past year.

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How Do Placebos Work?

There's a very real reason why your grandmother’s chicken soup makes you feel better when you're sick.

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Bacteria Can Turn Type A and B Blood Into a Universal Type O

This discovery could have life-saving applications.

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Debunking 6 Common Home Remedies That Aren't Worth Trying

If you are sick or injured, the treatment isn't usually in your kitchen pantry—despite what your grandmother may have told you.

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Everything You Need to Know About Activated Charcoal

You don't need it in your toothpaste or croissant.

A 2300-year-old mummy from Egypt's Saqqara Pyramids complex

7 Human Body Parts That Were Once Used as Medicine

Feeling sick? Try some blood jam.

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12 Facts About Kidney Stones

They’re more common than ever.

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Here’s What Happens to Your Body During Anaphylaxis

This is the science of it, step by step.