Oct 18 How Dracula draws on our biggest health fears By Dr. Howard Markel "Dracula" abounds with fascinating references to medicine of the day. Continue reading
Sep 14 Would McKinley have survived an assassin’s bullet if he had a different doctor? By Dr. Howard Markel The man best suited to operate on the president was a legendary surgeon with extensive experience in treating abdominal wounds. He, however, was in Niagara Falls. McKinley died on Sept. 14, 1901. Continue reading
Aug 19 How Groucho Marx fell prey to elder abuse By Dr. Howard Markel The turmoil of Groucho's last few years are all too familiar to adult children everywhere who are concerned with the welfare of their elderly parents and other relatives. Continue reading
Jul 14 This genetic brain disorder turned Woody Guthrie’s life from songs to suffering By Dr. Howard Markel Huntington's disease -- which Guthrie inherited from his mother -- can lead to serious mood disorders, uncoordinated and involuntary body movements, balance problems, psychotic breaks, dementia and death. Continue reading
Jun 21 The day Judy Garland’s star burned out By Dr. Howard Markel A singer of remarkable power and range, Garland was one of the brightest stars. But she also suffered a lifetime of mental and physical health problems, fueled by addiction. Continue reading
May 17 How ‘Raisin in the Sun’ author Lorraine Hansberry defined what it meant to be ‘young, gifted and black’ By Dr. Howard Markel Before her early death of pancreatic cancer, the groundbreaking writer made history with "A Raisin in the Sun."… Continue reading
Mar 24 What caused Harry Houdini’s mysterious death? By Dr. Howard Markel He may have escaped his dangerous feats, yet his death has remained a source of conjecture among both magicians and surgeons. Continue reading
Feb 28 The ‘awful’ work of the real doctors who inspired M*A*S*H By Dr. Howard Markel The people in MASH units worked long hours and endured horrific stresses of warfare. Continue reading
Jan 19 Edgar Allan Poe’s greatest mystery was his death By Dr. Howard Markel A man was discovered lying in the gutter, confused, bedraggled, and under the influence. Shabbily dressed (in someone else’s clothing, as it turned out), Edgar Allan Poe was in dire need of medical assistance. Continue reading
Dec 17 How a strange rumor of Walt Disney’s death became legend By Dr. Howard Markel When you hear "Disney on Ice," you may think of the wildly popular ice shows featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse and others skating in hockey arenas across the nation. But there's also the disturbing urban legend that Walt Disney’s corpse… Continue reading