#weirdhistory
@ChurchHatesTucker According to WaPo, the USPS began allowing live animal shipments in 1918, specifically to allow day-old chicks to be sent from hatcheries to poultry farms.
The current regulations are in Section 526 of the DMM (https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c5_008.htm) and baby alligators—under 20" in length—are still mailable today, along with other "Small, Harmless, Cold–Blooded Animals".
Bees and live scorpions are also mailable, although "scorpions are mailable only when sent for the purposes of medical research use or the manufacture of antivenin". (How big a market can that possibly be?)
IIRC, I don't think mammals were ever permitted to be mailed, although I recall an exhibit in the USPS Museum some years back that people did it (including mailing their children) up until it was formally prohibited sometime c.1918.
#WeirdHistory
A letter to the London mayor in 1583 complained that bowling alleys would "draw God's wrath upon the city."
We don’t talk enough as a society about the random explosion in Richmond, Indiana, in 1968 that killed almost 50 people and injured another 150. It was really serious but I wonder if anyone here without googling it even knows about. #weirdhistory
This is an intense Buzzfeed article about weird, sometimes funny (but sometimes awful and disturbing) quack remedies and devices from recent history.
Please read this article at your own risk. 🤣
We've come a long way, baby.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/shelbyheinrich/photos-from-the-past
#history #weird #disturbing #WeirdHistory #advertising #medicine #asthma #quacks #quackery #ads #medical #AdvertisingHistory #pseudoscience
Thought I’d do an updated #introductions post… I joined :mw: in November 2022. I live in the Midwest US with my 2 rescue kitties, Oliver and Melvin. Here are a few topics that I’m interested in and sometimes post about!
#weirdhistory #morbidhistory
#paranormal #ghosthunting
#deathpositive
#gnomes #mushrooms #cottagecore
#cats #cuteanimals
#movies #popculture
#traveling
#cemeteries
#gardening #gothgardening
I had totally forgot that Scotty from Star Trek shot 2 snipers on Juno Beach and took 6 bullets from friendly fire, surviving only because he had a silver cigarette case in his breast pocket. I know I knew it, but it was too weird to remember. #weirdhistory
"That Billy had a temper was already evident. Though he was believed to be in his late 60s or early 70s by the 1920s, he did not hesitate to pick a fight with children on their way to Delaney Elementary School, or even with the cars driving down Orange Avenue." #readersofmastodon #weirdhistory https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/billy-swan-orlando
You would think he’d have a boat and not a horse.
#MedievalArt
#Scribe
#Monk
#Fish
#WeirdArt
#WeirdHistory
#Histodon
The "Ghosts of Vezio Castle" in Lake Como are moulded off tourists who agree to have white gauze and chalk fitted to them. The sculptures are then left to the elements, where they erode. When a new season begins, the ghosts are cast anew.
More info: https://mymodernmet.com/vezio-castle-ghosts-lake-como/
A skeleton reclines on a coffin in this gold mourning slide. The coffin is inscribed with the message ‘I Rest’ Above this relaxed scene are two gold putti holding a cartouche with initials in gold thread. The background is hair. Mourning slides like this were worn on a ribbon around the wrist or neck, which was fastened through loops on the reverse. c.1700 (V&A, London) #MementoMori #skeleton #mourning #18thcentury #mourningjewellery #history #histodons #weirdhistory
A gold mourning ring from France. The very detailed skull-shaped bezel hinges opens to reveal a tiny message which translates as ‘'I fear death only in your heart'. This ring from the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto is very similar to an example from British Museum. 17th cent #mementomori #skull #ring #17thcentury #history #histodons #weirdhistory
Wax Vanitas (c.1700) - intended to remind us of the certainty of death. One side features a skull with insects feasting on decaying flesh. The other side resembles Queen Elizabeth I. It reads: “vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
This object is from the Wellcome Collection in #London.
#HistMed #MementoMori #HistSci #Histodons #Museums #WeirdHistory #MuseumObject #SciArt #Queen
Hmm, I'm not convinced by the quasi-religious monarchy system of government....
Princess-Abbess of Gandersheim, according to wikipedia.
Adelaide II: "according to reports by Bernold of Constance, Adelaide was also involved in Egbert's assassination two years later."
Henriette Christine: "In 1712 the 42-year-old Abbess of Gandersheim, Henriette Christine of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, suddenly resigned on account of the birth of her illegitimate son."
#Gandersheim #LowerSaxony #Germany #history #WeirdHistory #Christianity #AbolishTheMonarchy
Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg, according to wikipedia.
Adelaide: "the young girl was abducted by the forces of her quarrelling uncle Duke Henry II of Bavaria in 984 and held in custody by his henchman, the Billung count Egbert the One-Eyed."
Anna III: "died suddenly aged 36 after a walk. The official cause of her death was stroke. She was succeeded by her enemy's sister."
Dorothea: "Her baptism was notably held without the customary exorcism."
#Quedlinburg #SaxonyAnhalt #Germany #history #WeirdHistory #Christianity #AbolishTheMonarchy
Here’s a mummified cat found in the floorboards of an early 19th-century house in Britain. During this period, it was customary to hide dried or mummified cats within the walls of one's home to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck to the inhabitants. #Caturday #histodons #folklore #FF #WeirdHistory #weird
This is cute. The army of Saint Louis (Louis IX of France) departing from Aigues-Mortes escorted by angels (1248), Seventh Crusade, engraving by Gustave Dore (1832-1883) from History of the Crusades by Joseph-Francois Michaud (1767-1839), 1888 edition.
#History #Mastodon #Funny #FrenchHistory #France #Weird #Cute #Funny #Histodons #Histodon #Historical #Art #Photography #ArtHistory #Thursday #Friday #Historian #WeirdHistory #Metal #MetalHistory #Book
One thing I'm absolutely loving about Mastodon is the incredible communities I'm discovering via hashtags.
Here are some that I'm loving:
#RomanFortThursday
#Caturday (okay not niche, but you know...cats)
#Mosstodon
#Astrodon
#MedievalMastodon and #Medievaldons
#IlluminatedManuscript
#MastoArt
#Histodons
#BlackHistoryMonth and #BlackMastodon
#WeirdHistory
Goes without saying #bookstodon is a must.
Got anymore - share them below! I'm collecting inspiration. 🤗
Twelve Days of Mortality History Christmas - Day Six🎄💀: This enamelled gold mourning slide features four skulls (a choir of sorts), accompanied by crossed bones, a winged hourglass and leaves. The slide could be worn on a ribbon which was threaded through the loops visible on either side of the slide. Mid 17th cent. (@V_and_A) #MementoMori #skull #17thcentury #history #histodons #stuarts #WeirdHistory
This is a carbonized loaf of bread from Pompeii, 79 C.E. - preserved for thousands of years in the volcanic ashes of Mount Vesuvius. The baker left his stamp, which reads: “Celer, slave of Quintus Granius Verus." Celer is known to have survived the eruption, as his name later appears on a list of "freed men." Most bread at the time was baked in community ovens, so customized stamps were used to mark individual families’ and bakeries’ loaves.
Coca wine was an alcoholic beverage in the 19th century that featured both wine and cocaine. One popular brand, Vin Mariani, was enjoyed by Jules Verne, Alexander Dumas, and Arthur Conan Doyle. Thomas Edison claimed it helped him stay awake longer. I can't imagine why!
#histodons #WeirdHistory #WeirdFacts #MedMastodon #history #MedHist
This whalebone cane belonged to Charles Darwin. The skull pommel is decorated with some rather striking green glass eyes. (Wellcome Collection - where it was on display until November) #MementoMori #darwin #19thcentury #HistSci #Histodons #history #victorians #WeirdHistory
ESCAPABLE BURIAL CHAMBER built by Thomas Pursell for him and his family. The ventilated vault can be opened from the inside by a handwheel attached to the door. Pursell was buried there in 1937, and (so far) has never reemerged.
If you're new to #Mastodon and looking for people to follow, look no further for #WeirdHistory and #MedicalHistory!
#TwitterMigration #twitter #Introductions #TIL #HistMed #TheMoreYouKnow #FollowBack
#DYK that COFFIN COLLARS like this were invented to thwart bodysnatchers in the early 19th century? The collar was fixed around the neck of a corpse and bolted to the bottom of a coffin, making it nearly impossible to remove the body from its grave. Bodysnatchers (or "Ressurectionists") stole bodies to sell to anatomists and medical schools during this period.
Follow me for more medical history!
A skeleton with a crown above its skull on the hoop of this enamelled gold mourning ring by goldsmith Ralph Good from Devizes, Wiltshire. The design of the ring indicates that it was originally a wedding ring and the skeleton has been added later. The inscription mentions RC who died in 1727 (@britishmuseum) #MementoMori #skeleton #jewellery #weirdhistory #histodons #history #mourningjewellery
GRAVEYARD GUN (c.1820) - used to prevent bodysnatchers from stealing corpses to sell to anatomists. Set at the foot of a grave, the gun would have had three tripwires around it. One such gun reportedly killed a grieving father by accident. Coffin collars, fixed around the necks of a corpse and bolted to the bottom of a coffin, were also used to keep bodies in their graves.
Follow me for more #WeirdHistory!
#HistMed #HistSci #TIL #TheMoreYouKnow #Histodons #Introduction #Histodon #History
This wax model from the 19th century shows the internal structure of the brain, complete with its protective covering, the meninges. Wax models like this were used for teaching anatomy to medical students at a time when it was difficult to find bodies to dissect. They are an example of the combination of art and science that often characterized this period. Photo: Wellcome Collection.
#SciArt #ScienceMastodon #Histodons #Histodon #history #WeirdHistory #WeirdFacts #HistMed #HistSci #MedMastodon
Marie Curie's notebooks, which are radioactive and must be stored in a lead-lined box in the Bibliothèque Nationale. Curie’s corpse is also radioactive. Her coffin is lined in an inch of lead. Both will remain radioactive for 1,500+ years.
#HistSci #ScienceMastodon #MedMastodon #science #scientist #HistoryOfScience #HistMed #WomenInStem #TIL #TheMoreYouKnow #WeirdHistory
Wax Vanitas (c.1700) - intended to remind us of the certainty of death. One side features a skull with insects feasting on decaying flesh. The other side resembles Queen Elizabeth I. It reads: “vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
This object is from the Wellcome Collection in #London.
#HistMed #MementoMori #HistSci #Histodons #Museums #WeirdHistory #MuseumObject #SciArt #Queen
“One Night Cough Syrup” from the 1930s, which contained cannabis, morphine, chloroform, and alcohol. In 1934, the FDA ruled that the claims of the cough syrup's therapeutic properties were misleading, and the remaining stock was destroyed.
#HistMed #MedMastodon #ScienceMastodon #TIL #WeirdHistory #Weird #histodons #Medical #MedicalHistory #History #HstSci #FF #FollowBack #DYK #Pharma #chemiverse #chemistry #Flu
A white enamel skull stares out from the swivelling plate on this gold ring - it is a reminder of death. The reverse of the plate features a merchant's mark and monogram RE relating to the owner - this could be used to leave an impression in wax. Around the plate is the message Mors Bonis Grata - 'Death is pleasing to the good' reminding the wearer that those who live good lives should not fear death. 16th cent. (British Museum) #MementoMori #skull #histodons #history #jewellery #weirdhistory
I feel like we need to bring back #Victorian Christmas cards, like this one.
There's a whiff of #StarWars to this one. 😂
#History #Histodons #Weird #WeirdHistory #FollowBack #historian
This memorial in Arlington, Massachusetts to American #badss, Samuel Whittemore, who at the age of 80 became the oldest-known colonial combatant in the Revolutionary War. He was shot, bayoneted, & beaten by the British - but survived.
It been a wonderful first month on #mastodon but if we haven’t already met here’s a short #introduction to me and what I do… I’m Dr Dan O’Brien, historian of death in eighteenth century England. When I am not talking about the funeral trade I enjoy sharing lots of mourning jewellery and other death-related items from history - including my trips to #cemeteries and #churches. #Histodons #history #historians #weirdhistory
One of my favourites - Two enamelled skeletons support the coffin-shaped bezel of this gold mourning ring. The decorated lid of the coffin opens with another skeleton resting inside - a pin would have originally held the coffin lid on but it is now missing. 17th cent (British Museum) #MementoMori #jewellery #history #histodons #introduction #gold #weirdhistory #17thcentury
A VICTORIAN MERMAN.
Objects like this were sometimes made from the torsos of monkeys and the tails of fish. They were displayed by showmen like P. T Barnum to audiences who believed they were real. This particular one is on display at the Horniman Museum. It was recently x-rayed and curators discovered it had a wooden and wire frame inside with fish skin stretched over its tail. It has rows of teeth that were carved from bone and the hair is human.
Follow me for more #WeirdHistory! #histodon
A fantastically mischievous skull stares out from the hoop of this gold mourning ring. The enamelled skull has a rather large eye sockets and an impressive row of teeth too. Inscribed for C.A. who died 13 Dec 1708 aged 67 (British Museum) #MementoMori #skull #introduction #history #histodons #historian #jewellery #art #18thcentury #WeirdHistory
Hello! I'm a writer (yes, another one) and lover of history, books, art, animals, and all things dark and spooky. 🖤
I'm also a writing coach and a solicitor working with victims of crime.
When I've worked this place out, I'll mainly be posting about #books #writing #weirdhistory and #gothic stuff. Oh, and #cats.
The image is by Abigail Larson.
#Introduction #bookstadon
“Death blowing bubbles,” 18th century. The bubbles symbolize life's fragility. This plaster work appears on the ceiling of Holy Grave Chapel in Michaelsberg Abbey, Bamberg, Germany. After the monastery’s dissolution in 1803, the buildings were used as the city's hospital.
#histodons #sciart #art #histodon #WeirdHistory #MedMastodon #ScienceMastodon #strangerthings #history #historian #medhistory #histsci #histmed #intro #introduction
"The Tooth Worm as Hell's Demon,” 18th century. Standing only 4 inches tall, the two halves open up to reveal a scene about the infernal torments of a tooth worms which people believed caused cavities in the past. Tooth worms have a long history, first appearing in a Sumerian text around 5,000 B.C.E. References to tooth worms can be found in China, Egypt, and India long before the belief finally takes root (pun intended) into Western Europe in the 8th century.
Hi, #Mastodon! One final post before bed...
This is a carbonized loaf of bread from Pompeii, 79 C.E. - preserved for thousands of years in the volcanic ashes of Mount Vesuvius. The baker left his stamp, which reads: “Celer, slave of Quintus Granius Verus."
Celer survived, as his name later appears on a list of "freed men." Most bread at the time was baked in community ovens, so customized stamps were used to mark individual families’ and bakeries’ loaves.