Move aside, bleach and chloroquine. Snake oil from the past has set a high bar with one tragic case that ended in a man’s death from radiation poisoning in 1932.
The victim, Eben Byers, was consuming a “miracle” tonic called Radithor, which had radium as the active ingredient. This radium, a product of the radioactive decay of uranium, is generally known to be harmful.
During the early 20th century, new discoveries and a sense of boundless optimism surrounded the world. After the discovery of radium in 1898 by Marie Skłodowska-Curie and Pierre Curie, this glowing metal was touted as a health treatment.
Radium was added to products like toothpaste, hair cream, and even food. In 1918, a salesman named William J.A. Bailey introduced Radithor, which was essentially water infused with salts of radium-226 and radium-228.
Despite Bailey’s criminal history, he aggressively marketed Radithor as a product that could cure various illnesses.
Enter Eben Byers, a wealthy and influential figure, who consumed three bottles of Radithor daily for two years based on the recommendation of his physiotherapist.
By 1930, Byers’ health deteriorated significantly. After experiencing teeth loss and excruciating pain, he finally stopped consuming the tonic. It was too late.
Internal exposure to radium caused significant tissue damage to Byers, leading to his fatal condition involving disintegration of his upper jaw and debilitating pain.
Byers’ autopsy revealed that radium was distributed across his body, causing extensive bone damage and ultimately his death.
While the tragic death of Byers led to the formulation of regulations and the eventual end of the radioactive patent medicine industry, his remains still hold radioactive elements that are hazardous even today.
Given that radium has a long half-life, the remains of Byers continue to pose a radioactive hazard, serving as a poignant reminder of his fatal decision to trust Radithor.
