Step into 17th-century London, where the medical field was less science and more superstition. In this episode of Rub Some Dirt in It, Marshall Miller dives into the quirky and sometimes downright absurd causes of death listed in 1632. From “King’s Evil,” supposedly cured by royal touch, to “Cut of the Stone” surgery without anesthesia, history shows just how far medicine has come.
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Death by Planet? Strange Diagnoses from 1632 London’s Medical Records
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Marshall Miller:
Welcome to another walk down medical history lane, that we call, Rub Some Dirt in It.
I’m Marshall Miler.
London, 1632. Back when you could list every cause of death in the city... on one sheet of paper.
See, in 1632, they had no antibiotics, no vaccines, no healthcare system… honestly, they were just one slightly weird breeze away from total collapse.
Some of the causes of death were just... chef’s kiss… absolutely bonkers.
Take “King’s Evil” for example.
Was Charles the 1st running around casting spells? (Look off camera left) Sickus Removis! No—it was actually scrofula, a form of TB. But people believed the king’s touch could heal it!
That's right. The king would go around touching sick people “You have boils? Fear not, I have... eczema and zero medical training!”
How about…“Cut of the Stone.”
At first, I thought, “Well that has to be a stab wound.”
Nope! It meant bladder stones. And "cutting the stone" was just the surgery to remove them... before anesthesia. Just a guy with a knife and a prayer.
Another cause of death: “Planet.” Just... Planet.
Astrology was medicine. Imagine your doctor being like, “You’re a Pisces with Mercury rising? You’ve got three days to live. Oh, and Avoid dairy.”
“Suddenly” also made the list.
That’s it. Just... Suddenly.
Doctor: “How did he die?”
Nurse: “You’re not gonna believe this… suddenly.”
“Lethargy” killed two people.
Lethargy! That means two people died from basically being really, really tired.
Today we call that Sunday.
And finally... the most metal cause of death ever:
“Cancer, and Wolf.”
Like, not a wolf. Its not like a guy was bitten by a werewolf in Covent Garden.
No—apparently this type of cancer was so aggressive, it was described as “gnawing at the flesh like a wolf.”
Imagine your doctor today being like, “I’m afraid you’ve got cancer... and also... it’s hungry.”
So yeah, medicine has come a long way.
Back then, they had astrology, Knives and peckish Wolves.
Now-we have antibiotics, vaccines, and... Googling symptoms at 2AM and diagnosing ourselves with 12 different fatal diseases.
I’m Marshall Miller and thanks for watching, and remember, if you suddenly come down with a case of Jawfain, or even Tissick. You can always, Rub Some Dirt in It.
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Step into 17th-century London, where the medical field was less science and more superstition. In this episode of Rub Some Dirt in It, Marshall Miller dives into the quirky and sometimes downright absurd causes of death listed in 1632. From “King’s Evil,” supposedly cured by royal touch, to “Cut of the Stone” surgery without anesthesia, history shows just how far medicine has come.
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