Whale Carcass Therapy: A 19th-Century CureHow desperation led to a strange medical treatment.

From the show

Historically Bad Advice

This is one of history's most stomach-churning remedies. In the late 19th century, people suffering from rheumatism were advised to climb inside a recently deceased whale for up to 30 hours. The theory was that the heat and gases from the decomposing blubber would act as a 'sweat box,' providing relief for up to a year. It's a powerful example of how far people will go for a cure based on dubious expert advice.