The worst effects of radioactivity became known after the dawn of the Atomic Era, but there were earlier developments that led to very dangerous situations, even deaths. Several of these developments ended up classified under the category of "atomic quackery," with magic medicines and strange devices based on radioactive properties that could cure anything in their path, from sexual impotence to baldness, as well as chronic fatigue, arthritis, rheumatism, smoking, and more.
History teaches us that radioactivity was discovered by French physicist Henri Becquerel. Many other scientists around the world added their efforts to studying this peculiar and complex process... but they were not the only ones to show interest. Many industries welcomed radioactivity with open arms and did not hesitate to promote its "magnificent" properties.
They were joined by skilled salesmen, charlatans, masters of fraud and deception, who managed to introduce new products at lightning speed under the promise of fighting conditions and burning away diseases with the power of radioactivity. However, so-called "atomic quackery" went far beyond the classic "snake oil." Some people ended up in the hospital... and others suffered an even worse fate. Do you want to learn about the radioactive horrors sold at the beginning of the 20th century?
The Radioactive Product Hall of Shame
… yes. The "weak men" who had lost their personality, charisma, and "virile vigor" could acquire a box of Vita Radium Suppositories and regain all their sexual potency within 15 days.
Air was pumped through a sample of Radium-226 and introduced into the water at the other end. The liquid combined with "bubbles of radon gas" was used for human, animal, and even plant consumption.
The idea was to "optimize" the water we drank every day with radium, and this was one of the many available variants that was placed inside bottles. The FTC failed to intervene against the company but did tear into the distributors...
Unfortunately, no physical samples remain, but the ad says it all: "Restore your hair's original color with Caradium Radioactive Water!" In another advertisement, the woman is 50 years old, not 65.
The "Zimmer Laboratories of Los Angeles" managed to produce between 5,000 and 10,000 units. The refined radium inside makes it especially dangerous and requires special handling.
From Japan, the NICO Clean plate with uranium had the ability to reduce nicotine and tar in cigarettes by 17 percent. All we had to do was place it near the pack for 20 minutes.
The story behind this toothpaste deserves its own chapter, but for now I can say that the distributing company promised whiter teeth and healthy gums thanks to the injected thorium.
Like the radium bar, the Thomas Cone had to be submerged in a recommended volume of 13 or 14 liters of water for a period of 12 hours. Somehow, they sold for over 20 years...
The product of fake doctor William J. A. Bailey, Radithor was a solution of distilled water with two radium isotopes. Athlete and magnate Eben Byers consumed 1,400 bottles over the course of three years. He lost his jaw, holes appeared in his skull, and he finally died in 1932.
The inside of the Revigator was coated with uranium and radium minerals. The water needed to sit overnight to "make it radioactive and improve health." Six glasses a day!
A small bottle made of Bakelite with uranium mineral inside. A miniature Revigator, intended to boost facial cream for ladies of all ages.
In fact, Tho-Radia represents an entire line of cosmetic products. Skin creams, powders, lipstick, toothpaste, and even bar soap; true beauty could only be achieved with the combination of thorium and radium that Tho-Radia offered.
