From Tapeworms to Stapling: The Century-Long Obsession with the Stomach
In short: The stomach has long been viewed as the seat of our desires and the source of our weight. This lecture explores how medical fads and personality theories have shaped our relationship with this organ.
Joanna Bourke traces the history of stomach-related medical practices, beginning with nineteenth-century fads. One such bizarre prescription involved the intentional use of tapeworms, which were believed to live in the stomach and consume food on behalf of the host.
The lecture also examines the cultural link between the stomach and personality traits. By connecting these historical ideas to modern procedures like vertical banded gastroplasty, the presentation reveals how our understanding of the organ has evolved from mystical and parasitic theories to modern surgery.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: A History of the Stomach
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