On this day: March 22

Debate Over the Earliest Documented Case of Spontaneous Human Combustion

An 18th-century account long cited as the first documented case of spontaneous human combustion (SHC) is disputed by historians; closer examination shows ambiguous sources, competing earlier claims, and changing medical context that complicate the label.

Clint Malarchuk Survives a Devastating Neck Injury During NHL Game

On March 22, 1989, Buffalo Sabres goaltender Clint Malarchuk suffered a life-threatening neck laceration when a skate blade cut his jugular vein during a game against the Quebec Nordiques; quick action by teammates, trainers and doctors saved his life.

Cricket umpire arrested on field accused of accepting bribes

On 22 March 2000, an on-field cricket umpire was arrested after match officials and police alleged he accepted money during play; the arrest sparked immediate inquiries into corruption in the sport.

When Quackery Met Medicine: The 1842 Exeter Dissection Fraud

In March 1842 a scandal in Exeter, England—centered on a surgeon who falsified cadaver sources and staged anatomical demonstrations—became one of the earliest documented cases of medical fraud, shaking public trust in anatomists and prompting demands for stricter oversight.

Revealing One of the Earliest Staged Scientific Hoaxes, 22 March 1912

On 22 March 1912 a deliberately staged scientific hoax was documented, exposing how fabricated evidence and theatrical presentation could mislead both the public and parts of the scientific community. The case highlighted emerging tensions over standards of proof in early 20th-century science.