The version I heard here: http://www.radiolab.org/2008/dec/29/how-to-cure-what-ails-you/ http://www.radiolab.org/2008/dec/29/how-to-cure-what-ails-yo... linke

The version I heard here: http://www.radiolab.org/2008/dec/29/how-to-cure-what-ails-you/ http://www.radiolab.org/2008/dec/29/how-to-cure-what-ails-yo... linked the practice to doctors' misunderstanding of the cause of SIDS (crib death). It's interesting to learn where they came up with that misunderstanding. Edit: In this case, they were actually irradiating the thymus gland.