Medical Murders

Over the ages, arsenic has had many lives — beauty fad, household product, medical prescription… and weapon of choice wielded by killers everywhere from Alabama to ancient Rome. Brine your turkey, knead your dough, and listen to our Thanksgiving Special on the regime-changing, assassination-aiding King of Poisons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By 1848, Dr. J. Marion Sims had gone from just experimenting on enslaved women, to becoming an enslaver himself. His quest for fame while finding a cure for vesico-vaginal fistulas meant performing inhumane surgeries on the women he held captive. Women whose plight would remain unknown for over a century. Women who would ultimately take down Sims’ legacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a failed start to his medical career, Dr. J. Marion Sims settled in Alabama to continue his training. There he found success and started his own practice — specializing in the treatment of enslaved women and their children. But as Sims’ business grew, so did his ego. His desire to experiment on patients meant many of them didn’t make it out of his operating room alive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the wild frontier days of turn-of-the-century South Africa, women were expected to settle down young and produce a legion of children. Daisy de Melker dared to pursue a nursing career first. When she finally did find herself in the constraints of a marriage, she just as quickly set herself free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jack the Ripper’s crimes have gone unsolved for nearly 150 years, stirring up controversy even today. While many possible theories have been presented, new technologies bring unexpected leads — including a suspect with no medical training at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices