Karolyn Raphael

Bad Medicine

From the Garden of Eden to the jungles of the Amazon, snakes are creatures that have evoked both fear and fascination in human lore, myths, and reality. Fear of snakebites and snakes is grounded in a stark reality as snakes are responsible for an estimated 81,000 to 138,000 deaths each year, with many more suffering from the consequences of their venom. Despite this fear and the high stakes of snake encounters, humanity's quest to understand and counteract snake venom has led to significant medical advancements. A new book, authored by Bob Ashley, Charles F. Smith, and Gordon W. Schuett, entitled, “A Photographic History of Snakebite Treatments: Bad Medicine: Snake Oil, Potions, Elixirs, and Kits,” sinks its teeth into the topic of "Bad Medicine" and explores its fascinating history.