LIFESTYLE

These widespread practices in the Wild West show how wild the times really were

By YEET MAGAZINE | Updated 1408 GMT (2208 HKT) September 29, 2021

Swamp fever

The eccentricities of the doctors of the Wild West, whether or not they had any medical training, seem to have known no bounds.

Take one of their treatments for malaria, for example, which consisted of undressing the patient and leaving him uncovered outside to "cool" him as much as possible. This process, accelerated by buckets of cold water, was intended to induce chills. And if unfortunately the tremors became too severe, we administered opium, just that!