Nowadays, people hear the word "radiation", often frightened face discoloration, and some news reports that a certain community is worried about radiation jointly requiring the demolition of the signal tower, and after the three major companies have no choice but to dismantle, there is no signal in the community.
But in the days when radiation was first discovered, Americans were not only not afraid, but even "hardcore" with radiation water, taking a radioactive bath... The result, of course, was heavy casualties and became a "black history" in the history of American medicine.
The discovery of radium
At the end of the 19th century, Marie Curie measured one by one according to the periodic table of elements and found that an element that automatically emits rays is very similar to uranium and thorium.
In 1902, she finally extracted 0.1 grams of radium salt from thousands of kilograms of asphalt residue, and collectively referred to these elements with radioactive characteristics as "radioactive elements".
Nowadays, radioactive elements have been widely used in modern medicine and have become a common means of medical examination, but everyone should have seen that in order to prevent radiation leakage, every hospital has thick protective doors, fully armed equipment, and doctors are also particularly cautious.
But in the years when radiation was first discovered, Americans did not think so, and "hardcore" themselves were released in the face of radiation, developing many radiation products that now look very "ghost animals".
Madame curie
Used to prove the beautiful X-rays
On January 5, 1895, the German physicist Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen stumbled upon X-rays while doing experiments.
In 1896, Gruber, a student at the University of Chicago's Haneman School of Medicine, installed the first X-ray therapy instrument in the United States, and since then X-rays have penetrated into the field of medicine, and are not limited to this, and have become an auxiliary tool for Americans to pursue beauty.
People have fully explored the function of X-ray, put it in the shoe store, and everyone who buys shoes will put the foot of the new shoe under the photo, and use the power of radiation to see if their new shoes fit.
Just like in the picture, the clerk and customer look at the X-ray results from three holes. Not only are adults testing this way, but children buy shoes and measure themselves exposed to radiation.
Such a cruel new shoe test method was not regulated until 1946, and only began to be banned in 1957, and officially disappeared after the 70s.
X-ray shoe measuring instrument
The shoe X-ray measuring instrument is still just to look at the foot, in order to pursue the so-called "bone beauty", Americans further use X-ray in beauty pageants.
In the 1956 American beauty contest, one by one beautiful actresses took X-rays, proving that they were not only beautiful in the skin, but also beautiful to the bone, which caused a heated discussion among everyone for a time.
In the early field of photography, Americans were even more fearless of the harm of radiation, not to be left behind, using X-rays to take wedding photos and other photos to show their elegance and uniqueness.
The film industry caught up with the boom and took the opportunity to launch X-ray-themed movies. Being able to use X-rays became the standard for fashionistas of that era.
The 1956 beauty pageant
Drinking radiant water for healing
If the use of X-rays to observe the unknown internal world hidden under the skin and flesh is to satisfy people's curiosity, then Americans drinking radiation water makes people feel that IQ has gone offline.
In the 1920s, with the discovery of radium being recognized worldwide, merchants in New Jersey in the United States introduced a "radium thorium water", each vial contains 2 microcurring radium, radioactive just now, put in the hands are afraid.
Merchants advertise that drinking this water can treat more than 150 diseases, including high blood pressure, indigestion, and impotence.
In order to promote this divine water, cooperative doctors can get a 17% rebate for every bottle sold.
In fact, the radiation water has been produced for more than ten years, and it has not set off any big waves, until the then business celebrity Eben Byers was ill and rushed to the hospital, and this "divine water" full of radiation was completely burned all over the other side of the ocean.
Radium thorium water, each bottle contains 2 microcosm radium, And Byers comes three bottles a day
In November 1927, this Byers watched the football match between his alma mater, Yale University, and Harvard, because his alma mater won, he was in a good mood and held a railway version of the "Haitian Feast" on his private train.
Because hi overdone, he accidentally fell off the sleeper and seriously injured his arm. Originally thought it was a small problem, who knew that the well-paid private doctors who tried their best could not make Byers stop the pain.
Beyers could not play his beloved golf or hook up with women at will, so he was furious and began to seek medical advice everywhere.
At this time, a doctor who took a kickback duly paid tribute to this radium thorium water, I don't know if it is a coincidence, after drinking this divine water with excessive radiation, Byers's arm pain eased.
So Byers was enchanted, thinking that this thing was really a magical drink, and with his strong financial resources, others drank one bottle a day, he drank three bottles a day, and even poured this water on his own horse racing.
Eben Byers removing the chin
In fact, the "divine water" that Byers drank was not a new thing in the United States. As early as 1912, the American Thomas began to become a "porter of nature", making radiant water and applying for a patent.
He made a large jar of radium-containing uranium ore, filled it with water at night, and the next day everyone could drink the "full of vitality" radiant water.
The American people flocked to it, and for the convenience of portability, they further invented portable equipment that could turn it into instantly drinkable radiant water when it was put into the water.
It was not until 1931, just now what we call the tragic death of Byers, that everyone woke up: Byers drank more than 1500 bottles of radium thorium water for five years, and at this time he was terminally ill, the radiation in the body caused cancer all over the body, the skull was full of radiation holes, and even removed the chin in order to treat.
On the last day of March 1932, Byers died, weighing only about 80 pounds and festering. Because of the staggering amount of radiation, his body was even buried in a lead coffin to prevent radioactive elements from leaking.
At this opportunity, the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) began to comprehensively inspect the radiated water, and the Federal Trade Commission announced that it would ban all radiated water from the market, ending this farce.
Other radiation products
Radiant Hot Springs Hostel
In fact, at that time, people's ignorance of radiation and the pursuit of money not only produced the monster of radium and thorium water, but also used nuclear radiation in all aspects of life.
For example, in the 1920s, American merchants developed radon-radiant hot spring baths. Radon is a gas produced by decomposed radium, which is polluted by radiant gases, and many hot springs now remove this element.
But at that time, americans, when they learned where there were such hot springs, immediately flocked to them and opened them to radiate hot spring hotels, and some hot spring hotels even provided radon gas that could be inhaled directly. It's addictive.
In addition to radiant hot springs, American businessmen developed radiant soap, radiant beauty balm, and even radiant toothpaste in that crazy era, claiming that brushing made teeth whiter.
In fact, not only the United States, Europe does not show weakness, even cigarettes have added radium, saying that smoking can strengthen the body, just ask you dare to smoke one.
Contains radium cigarettes
Various operations have made human beings suffer a terrible price in the early days of the discovery of radioactive elements. Although various radiation products have caused a lot of harm to Americans, fortunately, radium is an element that is actually difficult to get.
The so-called radium products of some merchants in the United States are actually just counterfeit goods, and there is often no radium in them, so that there are no more serious consequences.
With the loss of these innocent lives in the early days, radiation and radioactive elements have been reacquainted at a tragic cost. Today's countries around the world are highly vigilant against this "beast" that may destroy all mankind, and finally put them in cages for the time being.
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