House Of The Dragon's Bad Medical Practices Have A Base In Reality

Viserys seems a little disturbed by the idea of ​​sticking his hand in a bowl of worms and letting them eat part of his hand - and who could blame him? - but the maester explains that the baby bugs will help remove the dead flesh and eliminate the infection. This cleanses the wound better than any liquid or scrub, and allows raw flesh to repair itself. Fly larvae, also called maggots, have been used by humans for wound debridement for centuries, dating back to Mayan healers who soaked bandages in animal blood to attract flies and encourage maggot infestation. They have been used through the ages and were considered a potentially miraculous wound treatment as recently as the 1930s, but the practice declined as antibiotics took over. In the age of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, however, doctors are once again turning to this irritating but seemingly scientifically proven practice.

Blowfly larvae used for the treatment of certain types of lesions and infections today do a very good job of removing damaged tissue and leaving only the good stuff behind. They also secrete chemicals that have antibiotic properties, helping to treat infections and promoting new skin growth. The concept is quite crude, but also saves limbs and sometimes lives. Here's hoping those restless guys can work their magic on Viserys, or he'll need a new little finger.

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