The Most Horrifying Experiments in World Scientific History

There are many differing opinions surrounding these cases, but they have nonetheless contributed to the development of modern medicine.

Mary Shelley’s novel, published in 1818 under the title “Frankenstein”, offers a candid view of humanity’s fears regarding the unpredictable consequences of scientific research and the violation of ethical norms.

In reality, there have been unimaginable experiments that took place, defying today’s humanitarian standards, yet they have opened new avenues for the field of biomedical science. It is not incorrect to call them insane, so let us take a broad look at these cases:

Turning Cats into… Telephones

The method of turning cats into telephones can be used in soundproof environments.

In 1929, long before the establishment of animal protection associations, Ernest Glen Wever and Charles W. Bray decided to attempt to transform a living cat into a common communication device.

After removing part of its skull, they inserted electrodes into the right auditory nerve and the cat’s body. These were connected by an 18-meter cable leading to an amplification speaker system in a soundproof room. When a person spoke into the cat’s ear, the sound could be transmitted through the speaker into the room for someone else to hear.

Records show: “The sound quality was completely clear, and all content was fully comprehended.” They also noted that this method could be used in soundproof environments. Notably, after the test subject was destroyed, they repeated the experiment several times and realized that only a living entity could transmit signals.

Two-Headed Dog

There are aspects in medicine that would have been considered science fiction half a century ago. However, medicine at that time performed feats that today seem only found in science fiction. The experiments to create a two-headed dog in the 1950s and 1960s were among such feats.

These experiments were conducted by Soviet scientist Vladimir Demikhov. He was a pioneer in the field of organ transplantation. Dr. Demikhov was among the first to use immunosuppressive drugs in organ transplants and designed the first mechanical heart support device – a precursor to modern artificial hearts.

With the aforementioned heart support device, Dr. Demikhov could control the heart function of a dog for up to 5 hours. This was the first experiment to maintain circulation in an animal from which the heart had been removed. Before Demikhov, many considered this impossible.

The two-headed dog could eat and live normally, though it died just 4 days later.

Born in 1918, right after the Russian Revolution, Vladimir Demikhov was a scientist specializing in organ transplantation research from the 1930s to the 1960s. Although he is now celebrated as one of the pioneering names in the field, his horrific experiments on dogs have inadvertently left a lasting stain. One of these was the attempt to “merge” two dogs into one.

His operation involved stitching the head of a 9-year-old dog named Shavka onto the body of a larger dog – Brodyaga. It is known that they had to disconnect the aorta and the spinal cord leading to Shavka’s neck to attach its head to Brodyaga’s body.

Surprisingly, the two-headed dog could eat and live normally, although it died just 4 days later. However, what is alarming and horrifying here is that Demikhov continued to conduct many similar experiments on various other dogs.

Although Demikhov’s research had potential, his two-headed dog experiment was largely dismissed by the scientific community. Only a few scientists recognized its significance, most notably American neuroscientist Robert White, who replicated Demikhov’s experiment on monkeys in the 1970s. While the two experiments were fundamentally similar, they demonstrated that head transplants are entirely possible.

The only difference was that the monkey head transplant closely resembled the process required for human head transplantation – the ultimate goal of this research. Demikhov attached a dog’s head to the body of another living dog, while White transplanted a monkey’s head onto a headless monkey’s body.

Facial Reconstruction

Certainly, the history of medicine cannot be filled solely with terrifying black marks.

During and after World War I, at least 300 soldiers underwent treatment and surgery at Queen’s Hospital due to shrapnel wounds. While it was shocking to witness, this was at least a commendable humanitarian achievement.

The accomplishments of Dr. Harold Gillies are among the most commendable. His book “Plastic Surgery of the Face” is available for free on archive.org.

The surgery for Captain William Spreckley (shown in the photo) is often mentioned, as he had suffered severe injuries from shrapnel wounds to his face, especially his nose and cheek, in January 1971.

Dr. Gillies took a piece of rib cartilage from the patient and implanted it into the damaged forehead area. After 6 months of continued treatment, he removed it and used it to reconstruct the nose. After 3 years of monitoring and care, Spreckley’s condition improved significantly, allowing him to be discharged.

Glowing Pigs

Taiwanese scientists implanted gene data into pig embryos.

Many species of animals and plants have been genetically modified to glow in the dark, but pigs had not been considered. In 2006, scientists from the Department of Zoology at National Taiwan University decided to implant additional gene data into pig embryos.

Ultimately, 3 individuals were recorded to have the ability to emit green fluorescent light. Not only did their outer skin glow, but their internal organs did as well. Although this was not the first instance, it was the most successful and unique result to date.

The scientists also emphasized that this achievement could be applied to further developments in genetic research, stem cell studies, and human pathogens.

Mice with Human Ears

This demonstrates the potential for cultivating artificial cartilage tissue in medicine.

Vacanti is the name of a mouse that was experimented on in 1997, notable for an unusual body feature: a human-like ear growing out from its back.

In reality, that part was made from a biopolymer framework. The cartilage cells beneath the skin were gradually nurtured and developed until they grew to completion. This serves as evidence of the potential for cultivating artificial cartilage tissue in medicine. However, at that time, due to a lack of awareness initiatives, it was merely a source of amusement for the world.

Drug Addiction Experiments on Monkeys

A case where a monkey using both cocaine and morphine for two consecutive weeks will die.

The monkeys subjected to experiments were used solely to demonstrate the effects of drugs on humans. The methods employed in this experimentation have crossed ethical boundaries regarding animal treatment.

The monkeys were trained to self-administer addictive substances such as morphine, cocaine, codeine, alcohol, and amphetamines. Once proficient at self-injection, experts provided them with large quantities of these drugs to consume.

Naturally, the addicted monkeys exhibited negative reactions, including self-inflicted injuries, seizures from cocaine use, excessive grooming of their arms and bellies, and self-mutilation due to hallucinations.

The “Training” of a Spy Cat

A cat trained for 5 years, but the experiment failed, as it ran into a taxi and died on the spot.

The U.S. government once aimed to train a spy cat, conducting an experiment that lasted five years.

The training did not stop there; they also implanted a listening device and a hunger suppressant in the cat—an antenna powered by a battery inserted into the poor animal’s tail.

This experiment ended in disaster; during a street trial, the cat ran into a taxi and died instantly.

Experiments on Rabbits

A rabbit in pain trying to escape from the confines of research instruments.

The purpose of these experiments was to measure skin irritation levels, damage to sensitive tissues, and the toxicity of various substances used in cosmetics.

Experts used corrosive substances directly on the eyes of many rabbits to evaluate the extent of eye tissue destruction.

After being administered such chemicals without sedation, the rabbits immediately emitted painful cries, and some even broke their necks or backs in attempts to escape the restraints of the research apparatus.

Post-experiment, these rabbits faced severe pain from rashes, swelling, pus formation, ulcers, bleeding, and blindness, which could even lead to death.

The “Restraint” Method Experiment

A poor monkey subjected to experimentation.

This experiment was conducted on monkeys. They were restrained and locked in a narrow cage and forced into confinement. Additionally, they were injected with ketamine and sedatives to limit their resistance.

Despite the pain endured by the monkeys, experts continued to use neurotoxins to inflict bodily harm on them, treating them as if they were genuine patients. They then proceeded to test various drugs aimed at treating their induced ailments.

Goat-Spider Hybrid Experiment

Scientists conducted an experiment resulting in a herd of female goats “producing” milk containing silk.

Harvesting spider silk is incredibly tedious. First, spiders are usually very small, so a lab technician would need to “collect” silk from thousands of individuals just to fill a test tube. Secondly, spiders are highly territorial, meaning each individual must be isolated from others and cannot be housed together.

So, what to do? Simply splice the gene for silk production from spiders into the genome of a more manageable animal, like a goat. This is exactly what researchers at the University of Wyoming did in 2010, resulting in a herd of female goats that “produced” milk containing silk. Study participants confirmed that the goats were entirely normal. So, don’t be surprised if one day you visit Wyoming and see an Angora goat dangling from a cliff.

Psychedelic Drug Experiments on Elephants

This research indicates that the psychedelic drug LSD may be effective in controlling elephants in Africa.

LSD, a well-known psychedelic drug in the U.S. around the mid-1960s, had previously been the subject of extensive scientific research. Some of these experiments were reasonable, some were cruel, and others simply irresponsible.

In 1962, a psychiatrist at the Oklahoma City Medical School injected 297 milligrams of the psychedelic drug LSD into a juvenile elephant. This amount was over 1,000 times the normal dose for humans. After a few minutes, the elephant named Tusko began to sway, collapsed to the ground, defecated, and experienced seizures. To revive Tusko, researchers administered a large dose of antipsychotic medication to terminate the symptoms. The results were published in the scientific journal Nature, stating that LSD “may be effective in controlling elephants in Africa.”

Sexual Experiments on Animals

According to PETA, numerous organizations currently conduct experiments related to the sexual lives of animals. The purpose of such experiments is not for amusement but to identify the areas responsible for sexual pleasure in animals, which could then be applied to humans.

However, the forms of experimentation have sparked significant controversy, with rats being the most notable examples. They have their entire skin removed from their genital areas, and electrodes are attached to observe their reaction levels, or they are tested with different chemicals. Most male rats die after these experiments, leaving their “genitals” available for dissection.

In other experiments, female rats are tightly restrained, drilled into the skull, and a portion of their brains is destroyed. They are then exposed to the urine of male rats—from either normal or neutered individuals—to test their reactions.

The aim is to assess how different brain areas in rats respond to hormonal stimuli from males. At the end of these experiments, all the rats are euthanized, leaving only their brains for research purposes.

Military Training

According to PETA, each year, 10,000 animals in the U.S. are shot, stabbed, dissected, and killed for military training purposes.

PETA has previously released several videos related to this process, including footage of a goat having its leg cut off and its organs removed while still alive to train military medics. Following the release of the video, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) immediately called for units to ensure humane practices in military training.

Despite this, similar exercises continue unabated. Ironically, even in first aid training, animals often do not survive, usually bleeding to death.

Tobacco Smoke Experiments

Everyone knows how harmful tobacco is to human health. However, some tobacco companies in the U.S. sought to prove the opposite by conducting experiments that had animals smoke cigarettes.

PETA specifically names R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris International—two massive tobacco corporations that are doing this. They made animals such as monkeys, dogs, cats, and livestock smoke daily, pumping cigarette smoke directly into their noses for hours on end. As a result, their skin suffered severe damage, fur fell out, eyes became bloodshot, and they began to show signs of coughing. However, they did not develop cancer, and the companies claimed this proved that tobacco smoke was unrelated to cancer.

Nevertheless, scientists argue that such experiments are meaningless. Animals actually respond very differently than humans to the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke, so the absence of cancer in animals does not mean that humans will also be unaffected.

Moreover, science has many other methods to test the toxicity of tobacco without resorting to animal experimentation. Yet, such experiments persist, causing immense suffering to numerous living beings.