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Health The traditional meaning of a myth is a wellknown story which was made up in the past to explain natural events, or to justify religious beliefs or social customs. The more modern use of the word implies a widely held, but false belief or idea. It is with this latter understanding that we commonly refer tomedical positions or beliefs that were once widely promulgated, but have since been shown to be unproven and, in many cases, absolutely false. A well-known traditional myth was that of Count Dracula, a character in an 1897 Gothic horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. His novel and many subsequent stories and movies told of his escapades in Transylvania, and the vampire fantasies. Belief in vampires actually led to the slaughter of many believed to be vampires. In fact, the notion of vampires may well have been conceived for unfortunate persons who suffered from a rare blood disorder called purpura, sometimes associated with constricting gums leading to fang-like teeth, distorted skin giving a frightening appearance, and blood in the urine. The best example of a medical myth from the late 19th century was the practice of selling liniments and elixirs that purported to cure a vast array of illnesses and ailments. Most commonly known as “snake oil,” eventual analysis showed that these concoctions were basically just mineral oil, sometimes mixed with various herbs and spices. Eventual testing and research had shown that none contained any product from snakes and, other than probable placebo effect, had no therapeutic effect whatsoever. The term snake oil Medical Myths by Robert MacMillan, MD 38 | www.snowbirds.org

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