Podcast Title: Ridiculous History
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
Episode: CLASSIC: Back When the Rich Ate Corpses
Release Date: July 3, 2025

Introduction: Exploring Historical Cannibalism for Medicine

In this classic episode of Ridiculous History, hosts Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown delve into the macabre yet fascinating world of historical cannibalism, particularly focusing on its medicinal uses among the European elite during the Renaissance and beyond.

The Grave Tax and Guanajato’s Sideshow Mummies

The episode opens with a discussion about Guanajato, a city that once imposed a “grave tax.” Ben explains, “If you fell three years behind on your loved one's resting place, they would dig the body up and take it out of the grave” (00:23). This taxation led to the natural mummification of bodies, which subsequently became a gruesome sideshow attraction. Gravediggers capitalized on this by charging people to view these preserved remains, turning death into a public spectacle.

Cannibalism as Medicine: Belief and the Placebo Effect

Ben and Noel explore how cannibalism was not merely an occasional act but a widespread medicinal practice. Noel remarks, “This conversation today is twofold. It's about the power of belief, the placebo effect” (05:27). They discuss how consuming human flesh and blood was believed to transfer vitality and health benefits, a concept driven by sympathetic magic and magical thinking. During the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly in Europe, these practices were considered the pinnacle of medicinal advancement.

Medicinal Practices and Notable Practitioners

The hosts reference Dr. Richard Sugg's book, Mummies, Cannibals and Vampires: The History of Corpse Medicine from the Renaissance to the Victorians, highlighting that such practices were not exclusive to the elite but were sought after by the lower classes as well. Ben cites Sugg’s observation: “The question was not so much should we eat human flesh? But what sort of flesh is best to eat” (07:12).

Notable remedies included:

• King’s Drops: Ground human skulls dissolved in alcohol, famously endorsed by King Charles II of England as a cure for ailments ranging from epilepsy to headaches (07:36).
• Human Fat: Applied externally as a poultice for gout, believed to provide therapeutic benefits (08:41).
• Blood Consumption: Drinking blood from individuals who died violent deaths was thought to enhance the potency of the remedy (10:33).

Cultural and Ethical Perspectives

The episode touches on the ethical contradictions of the time. Noel notes the hypocrisy in condemning indigenous ritualistic cannibalism while practicing medical cannibalism themselves. Michel de Montaigne, a French writer, criticized Europeans for this double standard, stating, “You cannot condemn people for practicing one kind of ritualized or spiritual cannibalism while you are happily grinding up mummies and drinking tinctures” (21:22).

Beth Conklin, a cultural and medical anthropologist, is cited to differentiate between European medicinal cannibalism and indigenous ritualistic practices, emphasizing that the former was more pseudo-scientific and less spiritually motivated.

Preparation and Preservation Techniques

Ben provides a detailed account of how human flesh was processed for medicinal use:

“Take blood from persons of warm, moist temperament... Let the corpse lie one day and night in the sun and moon, but the weather must be good. Cut the flesh into pieces and sprinkle it with myrrh and just a little aloe...” (12:12)

These procedures mirrored food preservation techniques, ensuring the flesh did not spoil and was palatable for consumption.

Modern Echoes and Continuing Practices

While the practices discussed are rooted in history, Ben and Noel draw parallels to modern medical practices and ongoing issues:

• Blood Transfusions: Though not cannibalistic, they involve the transfer of blood from one person to another, reminiscent of the historical belief in blood’s healing properties (22:41).
• Modern-Day Cannibalism: The hosts mention contemporary instances in certain African countries where albinism is hunted for magical rituals, highlighting the persistence of such practices (36:20).

Anecdotes: The Mellified Man and Thieves’ Candles

One particularly bizarre remedy discussed is the “mellified man,” a human mummy confection steeped in honey, believed to treat wounds and fractures after a century-long preservation process (24:01). Additionally, the use of “thieves’ candles,” made from human fat to stupefy or paralyze targets, persisted into the 1880s (22:56).

Listener Interaction and Conclusion

The episode concludes with a light-hearted exchange over listener mail, discussing cultural dishes like chebureki, and teasing upcoming episodes that blend humor with historical analysis.

Noel reflects on the episode’s dark themes, stating, “We hope that you found this as darkly fascinating as we both did” (38:35), and emphasizes the importance of understanding the desperate measures people took for health in times of limited medical knowledge.

Notable Quotes:

• Noel Brown: “This conversation today is twofold. It's about the power of belief, the placebo effect” (05:27)
• Ben Bowlin: “The question was not so much should we eat human flesh? But what sort of flesh is best to eat” (07:12)
• Michel de Montaigne (as referenced by Ben): “You cannot condemn people for practicing one kind of ritualized or spiritual cannibalism while you are happily grinding up mummies and drinking tinctures” (21:22)

Ridiculous History offers a captivating glimpse into the bizarre medical practices of the past, illustrating how desperation and belief shaped early medicinal approaches. This episode not only sheds light on the lengths to which people went for health but also prompts reflection on the ethical boundaries of medical innovation.