Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris

@drlindseyfitz.bsky.social

64K followers 920 following 4.6K posts

NYT Bestselling Author. Medical Historian. Breast Cancer Survivor. Next book: SLEUTH-HOUND, a whirlwind tour of Victorian forensics from the perspective of the man who loaned a voice & razor-sharp logic to Baker St.’s famous resident: Sherlock Holmes. .. more

Videos

Samuel Jackson Holmes was an American zoologist and eugenicist. He was a professor at the University of California, Berkeley from 1912 to 1938. He was a genetics researcher who studied animal behavior, heredity, and evolution. Over the course of his career he migrated from studying animals to humans, taking the behaviors and traits learned in the former and looking for them in the latter. .. more

Philosophy 26%

History 22%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · Oct 17

Another mass Twitter exodus! Welcome, followers - old and new.

If you ever wondered what would happen if you needed a leg amputated in 1832, or if you had a toothache in 1765 - look no further.

From the weird to the wonderful, I'm your gal for all things medical history!

A photo of Lindsey with long blonde hair wearing a skull necklace. The background is vaguely medical.

84 150 1.4K

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 2h

This is a book about how failure is an essential component to scientific progress. How did a rail accident lead to the removal of a brain tumor in 1884? What does an air conditioner unit have to do with polio? Find out in DEAD ENDS! Also available here: shorturl.at/JgWJj

@tealcartoons.bsky.social

A cartoon of a heart in a hospital bed hooked up to monitors

3 19

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 2h

When does death begin?

In the 18th century, no one could agree—some said when the pulse stopped, others when the body began to rot. Out of that debate came a century of strange experiments on severed heads.

Learn more in our kids’ book DEAD ENDS (w/ @tealcartoons.bsky.social): shorturl.at/FS3nd

A cartoon by Adrian Teal that depicts a guillotine and a severed head, with a modern-looking doctor holding a stethoscope to the head.

The cover of DEAD ENDS featuring a cartoon man being electrocuted back to life

1 6 30

Reposted by S. J. Holmes

Jesse "Pecke in the Crowne" Locker @jessemlocker.bsky.social · 2h

In this self-portrait by Pieter Van Laer (known as Il Bamboccio), ca. 1635–37, the artist portrays himself performing a magic ritual and, to his own horror, having summoned up some kind of demon. The sheet music has his signature and the words “il diavolo non burla” (“the devil doesn’t jest”)

"In one of the most remarkable self-portraits ever created, Pieter van Laer reacts with horror to the frightening claws of the devil that have suddenly come to claim him. Dressed in the black cloak and cap of a magician, the artist, with bulging eyes and open mouth, has witnessed this apparition while standing behind a table filled with books, some with alchemical notations, a variety of vessels, a snuffed-out candle, and a skull resting on hot coals" (Leiden Collection) https://www.theleidencollection.com/artwork/self-portrait-with-magic-scene/

2 25 65

Reposted by S. J. Holmes

Adrian Teal @tealcartoons.bsky.social · 3h

Very quick studies of human condom Mike Johnson.

#caricature #art

Three caricature studies of Speaker Mike Johnson.

5 6 77

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 5h

Great addition to the Bulwark!

Reposted by S. J. Holmes

Adam Keiper @adamkeiper.com · 5h

NEW: In his Bulwark debut, @davidsirota.com argues for Democrats to have "a laser-like focus on anti-corruption."
www.thebulwark.com/p/anti-corru...

How Anti-Corruption Can Be a Winning Issue for Democrats

It’s a powerful, unifying theme—and it’s tied to the crisis of democracy under Trump.

www.thebulwark.com

2 2 22

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 7h

I need to get @tealcartoons.bsky.social to do one of @joshmankiewicz.bsky.social next!

2 3

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 7h

Yessssss!

1 1 1

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 7h

Funeral Invitation, 1688.

Funeral invitations first appeared in the 17th century, and acted as an admission ticket to both the church and the funeral feast. Pallbearers were often assigned a number on the ticket to signify their position in carrying the coffin.

A funeral invitation from April, 1688. It has an ornate black border with various memento mori iconography around it - like skeletons, winged hourglasses, and scythes.

2 38 170

Reposted by S. J. Holmes

Surgeons' Hall Museums @surgeonshall.bsky.social · 9h

Thomas Keith died #OTD in 1895. Keith was famous for the procedure of ovariotomy.
You can read more about Thomas Keith on our blog: surgeonshallmuseums.wordpress.com/2023/09/04/t...

A painting of Thomas Keith. He has ginger hair and a long ginger beard. He is dressed all in black and has his right hand resting on a table. His left hand is holding his jacket open. The portrait is quite dark in colour.

3 15

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 19h

Well my DMs are open if you ever want to chat commercial publishing!

1 1

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 20h

Wow! Thank you so much! This means a lot to me coming from a scholar such as yourself ❤️

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 20h

Omg love this - wish Keith would join us over here!

Reposted by S. J. Holmes

Dr Leah Warriner-Wood (she/her) @leahww.bsky.social · 20h

I'm seriously behind the times (a lengthy PhD will do that to you) but I'd like it to be known how wonderful 'The Facemaker' by @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social is. My first proper postdoctoral read, and what a joy it was - absorbing, well researched and, above all, full of heart and humanity. A triumph 👏

2 1 6

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 20h

This was a gift to me from @tealcartoons.bsky.social because I’m such a Dateline fan 😂😂

Adrian Teal @tealcartoons.bsky.social · 22h

Silver fox Keith Morrison.

#caricature #art

Caricature of Keith Morrison leaning against a tree at a cordoned-off crime scene. A forensics guy in a hazmat suit stands by a covered body in the background.

3 2 39

Reposted by S. J. Holmes

Adrian Teal @tealcartoons.bsky.social · 22h

Silver fox Keith Morrison.

#caricature #art

3 1 35

Reposted by Iain Davidson, S. J. Holmes, Raúl Pacheco-Vega

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 23h

BREAKING

In a new video, Dolly Parton, the Queen of America, says she’s going to be ok.

300 2.1K 8.7K

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 1d

omg great topic! I cant wait!

1 1

Reposted by S. J. Holmes

Adrian Teal @tealcartoons.bsky.social · 1d

Head studies of anal fistula in a suit, Stephen Miller.

#caricature #art

Caricature head studies of Stephen Miller.

15 21 140

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 1d

Exactly this

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 1d

That’s incredible! I have a diabetic uncle who’s been on Mounjaro. First 8 months, he didn’t have much weight loss but his blood sugar improved. Now he’s losing weight - nearly 45 pounds! We are so happy for him.

1 2

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 1d

I know - it's exhausting. ❤️

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 1d

Totally agree. It’s so depressing.

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 1d

I didn't say it was a character flaw. I think the old paradigm implies it is a character flaw (because obesity is seen to be within a person's control and therefore failure to do so is a moral failing); whereas the new paradigm shows that it's due an underlying medical issue.

1 1

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 1d

I agree with this. I'm just saying: a lot of people going onto the drug are doing it for health purposes, not just aesthetics. It's a pretty powerful drug, and I do think it needs better regulating so that people on it are under the actual care of a doctor (not just accessing it online).

1 2

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 1d

GLP1s are a paradigm shift in how we understand metabolic disorders. Many with obesity suffer from a hormonal imbalance. Once corrected, weight loss follows. It's a side effect of the body functioning properly. There are many health benefits that have nothing to do w/ aesthetics that come from this.

1 4

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 1d

I think we need to reframe how we discuss metabolic disorders as these drugs prove that many people with obesity suffer from a GLP1/GIP hormonal imbalance. I would also argue that people with weight issues often work hardest at exercise and diet, often with little long-term result.

1 1 6

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 1d

I agree that it's difficult to lose weight through exercise alone. But again, we've fallen into the trap of talking about weight gain as a symptom of a "bad diet." These drugs are proving that weight gain is often a symptom of a hormonal imbalance. Once that is corrected, the weight loss follows.

2 9

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 1d

Eating well & exercising are important. But for many, exercise is not an effective tool for weight loss. And diets rarely work longterm. This is the heart of the paradigm shift - many metabolic disorders are hormonal imbalances that can be corrected with medication. Tablets are on the horizon!

1 5

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 1d

This is a paradigm shift in how we understand metabolism. The metabolic disorder that leads to weight gain is caused by a hormonal imbalance. When you go off the drug, you revert back to your abnormal state. This is why many doctors are now recommending this as a longterm (or lifetime) medication.

1 13