From the hands of quacks.....

Past and present, how are the two connected? How does the past influence the present and into the future regarding deaf and hard of hearing people?  You have your quacks back then in history's time and then you have some more quacks today. Here's a guy gal who has an interest in studying the medical past and how it impacted society:

I am a PhD candidate at the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Toronto. My research broadly focuses on early nineteenth century developments in English medicine and biology. In particular, I am interested in how medical communities defined and dealt with diseases and how these definitions had an impact on society. I am also interested in medical technology, especially diagnostic technologies.

Currently, my research focuses on early nineteenth century developments in aural surgery, a branch of medicine focused on treating and classifying ear diseases. In particular, I am examining the life and time of the aurist John Harrison Curtis (1778-1856), who was amongst the first “self-professed” aurists of the day.

The title of my blog, “From the Hands of Quacks,” derives from the otologist Joseph Toynbee (1815-1866), who infamously declared he planned to “rescue aural surgery from the hands of quacks.” Considering how I’m also examining the tension-filled relationship between “reputable” medical practitioners and “quack” aurists, I thought this line would be fitting for my dissertation title. What comes after the colon, I haven’t figured out yet.

And be sure to read his her recent blog (and his her later ones) covering the subject of deafness and the medical applications or quackery that were attempted on people with hearing loss or in his words "aural diseases." Lots of contents to cover if you want to delve in this historical perspective from a different angle.

It's one thing to learn about the history and its mistakes, it's another thing to dwelve on it every single minute of it in the name of political correctness and the gnashing of the teeth like some people are wont to do. Well, this guy sure makes it interesting.