Medical Diagnoses in The Knick: A Comprehensive Review of Medical Conditions in Season 2
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Season 2 of The Knick delves deeper into the darker side of medical advancement, moving beyond the operating theater to explore public health crises, the physiology of addiction, and the nascent (and often dangerous) field of eugenics. From Dr. Thackery's obsession with solving his own dependency to the racial and class disparities inherent in the management of the Bubonic Plague, the season showcases the brutal trial-and-error nature of early 20th-century medicine.
Below is a comprehensive review of the specific medical diagnoses and treatments featured throughout Season 2.
Episode 1
Bubonic Plague (The Black Death)
A multi-city investigation into the Bubonic Plague is launched, spanning from San Francisco to New York. Diagnosis: The illness is transmitted by rodents and fleas. Victims, often stowaways, were found in rapidly deteriorating states involving vomit and blood. Diagnosis was confirmed through laboratory analysis of the deceased. Treatment: The primary response was the implementation of strict quarantines, enforced by police barriers and driven largely by fear rather than curative efforts.
Chronic Cocaine and Heroin Addiction
Dr. John Thackery attempts to treat his own addiction with scientific rigor. Progression: His condition progressed to total functional collapse and temporal obsession. Dr. Gallinger kidnapped him to force detoxification by tying him to the mast of a boat. Diagnosis: Thackery concluded that addiction is not a moral failing but a medical disease requiring a scientific cure.
Tuberculous Osteomyelitis
Unnamed Patient. A patient presented with a massive abscess on the limb. Diagnosis: Tuberculous osteomyelitis, where pus accumulation reached the bone. Treatment: Dr. Bertie Chickering performed a dissection down to the bone to drain the infection, successfully avoiding amputation.
Detached Retina
Following a physical altercation, Dr. Algernon Edwards suffered vision impairment. Diagnosis: "Pancadas" (blows) to the eye caused a detached retina. Treatment: With no proven surgical options available, prolonged rest was prescribed, though the prognosis remained uncertain.
Other Medical Diagnoses and Conditions Discussed
Placenta Previa: Pregnancy complication obstructing the cervix.
Tonsillitis: Inflammation addressed via surgery.
Cholecystitis: Gallbladder disease requiring ligation of cystic arteries.
Severe Constipation: Gastrointestinal condition requiring prescription.
Venereal Disease: Infectious illnesses requiring weekly screenings.
Episode 2
Narcotic Addiction (Cocaine and Heroin Dependency)
Dr. JohnThackery’s treatment at Cromartie involved dosing with heroin, leading to a dual addiction. Diagnosis: Speedballing (simultaneous injection of cocaine and heroin). Thackery theorized that one drug counteracted the other. Treatment: He proposed investigating addiction as a disease. Treatment involved strict monitoring of skin for needle marks.
Retinal Detachment
Dr. Algernon Edwards. A progressive retinal detachment caused by sub-retinal fluid accumulation. Treatment: After standard interventions failed, Edwards proposed coagulation by electrolysis. The surgery, performed by Thackery, was aborted when Thackery suffered withdrawal tremors.
Other Medical Diagnoses and Conditions Discussed
Alcoholism: Condition requiring private detoxification.
Ruptured Eardrum: Fluid accumulation requiring tympanoplasty.
Typhoid Fever: Epidemic disease requiring tracking.
Psychopathy: Mental health diagnosis for municipal admission.
Indigestion: Treated with bovine gall.
Bright’s Disease: Kidney illness treated with fever therapy.
Episode 3
Neurosyphilis and Induced Hyperthermia
Abigail "Abby" Alford suffered from late-stage syphilis, affecting neurological function. Diagnosis: Presence of spirochetes. Thackery discovered the bacteria dies at temperatures between 41.1 and 41.7 ºC. Treatment: The team proposed Malariotherapy: infecting the patient with malaria to induce a high fever to kill the syphilis, followed by quinine to cure the malaria.
Other Medical Diagnoses and Conditions Discussed
Thyroid Disease: Abnormality requiring thyroidectomy.
Hay Fever: Treated experimentally with adrenaline.
Comatose State: Deep unconsciousness requiring monitoring.
Morphine-Induced Delirium: Agitation from drug use.
Heroin Addiction: Compulsive use risking toxicity.
Liver Tumor: Mass requiring bifurcation of tissue.
Episode 4
Neurosyphilis and Malaria-Induced Pyrotherapy
Abigail "Abby" Alford’s syphilis progressed to convulsions and jaundice. Treatment: Dr. Thackery implemented fever therapy, infecting her with malaria to raise her body temperature to 41°C. Quinine was subsequently used to stabilize her.
Inoperable Esophageal Mass
Mrs. Chickering. Bertie’s mother presented with a malignant mass seizing the esophagus. Diagnosis: X-rays confirmed the mass was terminal and inoperable. Treatment: While experts recommended palliative opiates, Bertie began investigating unproven methods.
Other Medical Diagnoses and Conditions Discussed
Pregnancy Interruption: Clinical termination of pregnancy.
Tonsillitis: Infection requiring removal.
Traumatic Keloid: Scar tissue on the median nerve causing sensation loss.
Episode 5
Neurological Morphine Addiction
Mr. Sidney Carton. A patient with an exposed brain was used to study the physiological seat of addiction. Diagnosis: Severe morphine addiction. Treatment: Dr. Thackery used a rheometer to identify the specific brain region reacting to the drug, proposing surgical isolation of that area.
Laryngeal Cancer
Mrs. Chickering. An aggressive tumor of the larynx. Treatment: Bertie investigated radiation therapy using radium to isolate the tumor for removal.
Bubonic Plague (Pasteurella Pestis)
Mr. Speight (Post-mortem) Diagnosis: Pasteurella Pestis (Bubonic Plague) was identified in Speight's notebook, linked to the ship L'Aquitaine.
Other Medical Diagnoses and Conditions Discussed
Malaria: Fevers treated with quinine.
Menstrual Cramps: Treated with aspirin or cannabis indica.
Shattered Pelvis: Trauma involving evisceration.
Pneumothorax: Collapsed lung treated with a trocar.
Compound Fracture: Bone break penetrating skin.
Mental Deficiency: Legal classification for institutionalization.
Episode 6
Bubonic Plague (The Black Death)
Immigrant Cluster. A cluster of cases was found among immigrants. Diagnosis: The Black Death, characterized by cyanosis of extremities and hemorrhaging. Investigation: The outbreak revealed a lapse in health protocols for first- and second-class ship passengers.
Conjoined Twins (Omphalopagus)
Zoya and Nika. Twins joined at the midsection. Diagnosis: X-rays revealed they shared a single liver. Treatment: Thackery planned to clamp the hepatoduodenal ligament and divide the liver, theorizing it would regenerate.
Laryngeal Cancer
Mrs. Chickering. The tumor invaded the trachea and esophagus. Treatment: Experimental ionization failed. An emergency laryngectomy was attempted, but the patient succumbed to hypoxia.
Other Medical Diagnoses and Conditions Discussed
Dysentery: Inflammatory intestine infection.
Umbilical Hernia: Protrusion in navel area.
Paranoia: Mental condition linked to focal infections.
Hypochondria: Treated via radical organ removal.
Sepsis (Focal Infection Theory): Bacterial infection causing mental instability.
Trachoma: Bacterial eye infection.
Episode 7
Conjoined Twins Separation
Zoya and Nika. Surgical separation of the twins. Treatment: The liver was divided using the "Gallinger Knot" for suturing. Both girls survived.
Umbilical Hernia and Curare Overdose
D.W. Garrison Carr. A persistent umbilical hernia. Treatment: Dr. Edwards used curare to relax the muscles. Complication: A curare overdose caused total body paralysis and respiratory failure. Dr. Gallinger performed manual respiration until the toxin dissipated.
Other Medical Diagnoses and Conditions Discussed
Alcoholism: Treated with hypnotic suggestion.
Intestinal Irritation: Managed with turpentine.
Peritoneal Complications: Issues within the abdominal cavity.
Post-operative Pneumonia: Secondary respiratory infection.
Anaphylaxis: Allergic reaction ruled out during surgery.
Episode 8
Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident)
Reverend A.D. Elkins. After months of minor episodes, the Reverend suffered a major collapse. Diagnosis: Stroke. Treatment: Palliative care, as intervention options were limited.
Nasal Deformity and Anesthetic Reaction
Abigail Alford. Nasal swelling from a corroding metal implant. Treatment: "Sonoplastia" using celluloid for support. Complication: A severe systemic reaction to anesthesia treated with strychnine and physical manipulation.
Other Medical Diagnoses and Conditions Discussed
Cardiac Arrhythmia: Irregular heartbeat.
Acute Poisoning: Ingestion of toxic substances.
Gastrointestinal Ulcer: Investigated via feces examination.
Mental Deficiency: Justification for involuntary sterilization (eugenics).
Episode 9
Smallpox (Varíola)
Nicaraguan Villagers. An epidemic initially thought to be yellow fever. Diagnosis: Smallpox, introduced via contaminated blankets. Treatment: Variolation (inducing a mild case) to create immunity.
Bowel Ischemia
Dr. JohnThackery collapsed after chronic pain. Diagnosis: Intestinal ischemia and necrosis caused by long-term cocaine use damaging intestinal veins. Treatment: The team recommended resection, but Thackery resisted.
Other Medical Diagnoses and Conditions Discussed
Yellow Fever: Viral infection common in tropics.
Arsenic Poisoning: Toxicological condition.
Insanity: Treated via dental extraction.
Hereditary Unfitness: Eugenic classification.
Episode 10
Blood Type Incompatibility
Young Female. Thackery investigated fatal transfusion reactions. Misdiagnosis: He hypothesized blood types were based on cell size. Outcome: The patient died due to agglutinating antibodies.
Intestinal Ischemia and Autosurgery
Dr. John Thackery diagnosed himself with multi-focal bowel necrosis. Treatment: He attempted autosurgery (operating on himself) under spinal anesthesia. Outcome: He accidentally severed his abdominal aorta, leading to hemorrhagic shock and loss of consciousness.
Mental Disorders via Focal Infection
Eleanor Gallinger. Dr. Cotton believed mental illness stemmed from infection. Treatment: Eleanor had all her teeth extracted. Future plans included removal of tonsils and colon.
Splenic Anemia
32-Year-Old Male. Indicated by green skin coloration. Treatment: Thackery performed a successful splenectomy.
Other Medical Diagnoses and Conditions Discussed
Permanent Paralysis: Risk of spinal nerve blockers.
Radiodermatitis: Radiation poisoning from X-rays.
Bubonic Plague: Infectious disease introduced via ports.
🔖 Key Takeaways
🗝️ Addiction as Disease: The season heavily focused on shifting the perception of addiction from a moral failing to a physiological disease requiring scientific treatment.
🗝️ Public Health: The investigation of the Bubonic Plague highlighted class disparities in health protocols and the brutality of early quarantine measures.
🗝️ Surgical Hubris: Dr. Thackery's final act of autosurgery demonstrated the extreme risks of early 20th-century medical experimentation and the dangers of unchecked ego.
🗝️ Eugenics: The narrative explored the dark rise of eugenics, utilizing diagnoses of "mental deficiency" to justify sterilization.
🗝️ Radiation: The introduction of radiation therapy for cancer marked a pivotal, though initially crude, step forward in oncology.
Keywords: Medical Diagnoses The Knick Season 2
Medical Diagnoses The Knick Season 2
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