This week, we celebrate April Fools' Day with a little medical trickery. First, we learn about Franz Mesmer's questionable 18th-century cures. Next we hear how fooling the brain is sometimes the only way to get accurate scientific results.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

01:08 Mesmerism

05:06 Modern Placebos: A Necessary Hoax?

10:27 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Michal Meyer and Josh Kurz for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.