Pelvic Massage: A 19th-Century PrescriptionWhen physicians automated a bizarre medical treatment.

From the show

Historically Bad Advice

Discover the unbelievable but true history of the vibrator. In the late 19th century, doctors treated the catch-all diagnosis of 'female hysteria' with a hands-on therapy. When the procedure proved too tiresome, they engineered a mechanical solution. This new device was framed as a purely medical tool to induce a 'hysterical paroxysm,' conveniently ignoring its sexual nature. It’s a strange story of medical innovation, social norms, and a fake disease that led to a world-changing invention.