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(#11) Endocrine Glands Were Regulated With The Radiendocrinator
The endocrine system regulates the body's hormone production. The glands in the endocrine system include those in the neck – the thyroid – as well as the pituitary gland in the brain. However, the horrifying detail here involves the glands that men would treat with the Radiendocrinator – their testes. Treatment via the Radiendocrinator involved holding the device in place sometimes for hours at a time, with the handy (and included) strap that resembled an athletic supporter. Ironically, the creator of the device, William J.A. Bailey, died of radiation-induced bladder cancer in 1949.
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(#13) Radioactive Heating Pads Cured A Number Of Ailments
A radioactive heating pad that was lined with radium claimed to cure everything from rheumatism to standard aches and pains. The instructions for this particular device include warming it up, keeping it dry, and then applying it to the area of the body that hurts. Users could supposedly leave it on for up to 12 hours a day, and they were even encouraged to roll it up around a painful body part, such as an ankle, and tie it into place.
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(#12) Gout And Neuralgia Were Taken Care Of With Radium Tablets
Radium tablets are still a legitimate medical treatment for people suffering from various types of cancer. However, back in the late 19th century, these tablets were sold on pharmacy shelves and supposedly cured gout, neuralgia (stabbing nerve pain), and numerous other ailments. These radioactive tablets, sold under brand names like Arium and Radione, were taken daily by people who simply wanted to feel better or have "the strength of iron."
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(#2) People Submerged Themselves In Radium-Laced Water At Spas
Going to spas and spending some time submerged in radioactive water was supposed to be an invigorating experience. In actuality, the natural radiation in these mineral hot springs might have made the spa goers feel relaxed – that is, until a few decades later when they realized that the "hot" water did more harm than good. During the time period, however, even reputable medical journals touted the healing abilities of radium and similar materials, and some claimed radium hot springs were a literal fountain of youth that could help slow the aging process. Some radium-filled hot springs are still in business today, but they limit people's exposure to any radioactive elements in the water.
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(#8) Glasses With Radioactive Lenses Corrected Vision Problems
Before there was laser eye surgery, there were Dengen's Radio-Active Eye Applicators. This device looked like a pair of simple spectacles, only instead of lenses, it had opaque pods that contained radium and other radioactive materials. Not only could they cure your eye ailments, claiming to repair things like nearsightedness and farsightedness, but they also took care of headaches and eye strain. What's even more disturbing is the fact the eye applicators came in three different strengths.
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(#9) Tho-Radia Cosmetics Claimed To Brighten Skin
Tho-radia was a line of makeup and skin creams that contained radium. It was heavily marketed to women in the United States and France, who purchased the items in the hopes that the product's claims – to rejuvenate and brighten skin – were true. To add a little extra cachet to the brand, its creator, Dr. Alfred Curie (no relation to Marie and Pierre Curie) put his name on the ads.
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About This Tool
The 20th century is an era of rapid development of basic science. The element radium number 88 was discovered by Marie Curie and her husband Pierre in 1898 when they were studying bituminous uranium. In 1903, Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize in Physics and became the first woman to receive the prize. In the early 20th century, radium was loved by the medical field because of its amazing function to destroy cancer cells.
At that time, medical devices containing radium were widely used to treat high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, etc. We now know that radium is radioactive and can treat cancer, but its early use in medical devices was life-threatening. The random tool introduced 15 horrifying medical devices of the 20th century that contained radium.
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