We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
cover of episode Goat Testicle Transplants: The Bizarre History

Goat Testicle Transplants: The Bizarre History

2025/2/7
logo of podcast Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
K
Kate Lister
T
Tim Hartford
Topics
Kate Lister: 我在本期节目中介绍了约翰·布林克利的故事,他是一位通过移植山羊睾丸来治疗疾病的江湖医生。他自称能通过奇迹疗法治愈阳痿和逆转衰老,但实际上他只是在卖有色水。他是一位利用媒体宣传的骗子,开创了山羊睾丸移植的治疗方法。他的故事充满了虚假的医疗声明、表演技巧和犯罪行为,以及山羊的悲剧。我很高兴能与 Tim Hartford 讨论山羊睾丸移植的话题。 Tim Hartford: 我很期待听到更多关于 Brinkley 医生的故事。在 19 世纪末和 20 世纪初,蛇油市场规模巨大,通常与马戏团有关。吸引人们的注意力很重要,就像现在的网红通过做有趣的事情来吸引注意力,然后推销他们的产品一样。当时的主流医学实践并不一定比江湖郎中更好,只是更有权威。当时的主流医学实践认为睾酮对男性很重要,而睾酮是在睾丸中产生的,所以将睾丸放入另一个睾丸中是有意义的。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter explores the early life and career of John Brinkley, detailing his transition from selling snake oil to performing goat testicle transplants. It highlights his showmanship, the popularity of his unorthodox treatments, and the birth of "Billy," the first goat gland baby, used to promote Brinkley's methods.
  • John Brinkley's early career involved selling snake oil and other unproven remedies.
  • He pioneered the use of goat testicle transplants, claiming they cured impotence and boosted fertility.
  • The birth of "Billy," the first goat gland baby, became a major publicity stunt for Brinkley's practice.

Shownotes Transcript

Quack doctors have made some INCREDIBLE promises throughout history, but what good would a goat testicle transplant do for you?

In the early 20th century, John R. Brinkley became a sensation for - you guessed it - implanting goat's testicles into men. He promised virility and boosted fertility.

Did it work? Did the law ever catch up with him for such outrageous claims? And what became of the people (and goats) who were involved in his operations?

On today's episode, Kate is talking with Tim Hartford on his wonderful podcast, Cautionary Tales, created by Pushkin Industries, to find out more about this remarkable quack doctor.

This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producers were Stuart Beckwith, Marilyn Rust and Charlotte Long.

You can listen to Cautionary Tales)* *wherever you get your podcasts. *Cautionary Tales *is a Pushkin Industries Production. For a full list of sources, see the show notes at timharford.com).

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe).  

You can take part in our listener survey__ here__).

All music from Epidemic Sounds.

Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.