Garden hermit
Rich people often have weird whims. But in the past, their obsessions made people suffer. In the 18th century, it was popular to have a personal hermit who lived in your garden. A hermit wasn’t allowed to wash or cut their nails and hair. They lived in a handmade grotto. Owners always showed off in front of visitors and were proud of their “live decorations.”
Doubtful treatment methods
Not so long ago, doctors had no clue about disinfection and used strange methods: bloodletting as a remedy for all diseases, tongue cutting against stammering, as well as lobotomy and electric shock treatment. Even the most successful doctors of that time, like orthopedic surgeon Lewis Sayre(pictured with a patient), did lots of operations with lethal outcomes.