the hospital treated 11,602 patients, sixty-four a day, for injuries and ailments that suggest that the mundane sufferings of people have not changed very much over the ages. The list included: 820 cases of diarrhea; 154, constipation; 21, hemorrhoids; 434, indigestion; 365, foreign bodies in the eyes; 364, severe headaches; 594 episodes of fainting, syncope , and exhaustion; 1 case of extreme flatulence; and 169 involving teeth that hurt like hell.
by Erik Larson
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The hospital's patient statistics reveal a striking continuity in human ailments across time, with a total of 11,602 individuals treated, averaging sixty-four patients per day. This data reflects the persistent nature of everyday health issues that people have faced throughout history, suggesting that the common struggles related to health remain largely unchanged. The various complaints treated included gastrointestinal troubles like diarrhea and constipation, as well as dental pain and frequent headaches.

This array of conditions—ranging from indigestion and fainting episodes to foreign bodies in the eye—illustrates the ordinary yet significant medical challenges that were prevalent. Notably, there were even cases of extreme flatulence and severe toothaches among the patients. Through these statistics, the book "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson emphasizes how timeless and universal certain health problems can be, linking modern experiences with those from the past.

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