The tragic story of Eben Byers, who was treated with radium (7 photos)

Today, if we have health problems, we go to the pharmacy and buy medications. It's not that they're all beneficial, but they can be used without much risk. But just a hundred years ago, doctors prescribed drugs that could not only cripple but also kill. A case in point is the story of the unfortunate Eben Byers from the United States, who was treated with radium.





A Miraculous Discovery

At the beginning of the 20th century, people were convinced that the chemical element radium had miraculous healing properties. Very little was known about radioactivity back then, but new "magic" drugs were believed in with childish naivety. And how could they not believe, when the luminaries of medicine of the time spoke of the healing properties of radium?



Radium Chocolate

The authoritative physician Dr. W. Engelman wrote about radium in 1913:

"Radium radiation therapy improves all vital processes."

His colleague, Dr. C.G. Davis, echoed him:

"Radioactivity can do anything!" Prevent madness, delay old age, and make your life magnificent and filled with youthful joy!

The belief that radiation is beneficial emerged after the publication of a scientific paper by physicist David Thompson in 1903. The scientist, who discovered the electron, described in one of his articles a study of wells whose water had been considered healing for centuries. Thompson discovered that the water was radioactive due to radon, an inert radioactive gas common in nature.

After this, the scientific community decided that radiation was a panacea for all ailments. One of the wise men even claimed that it filled the human body with life-giving energy, promoted cellular activity, and accelerated metabolism. However, radon proved unsuccessful as a cure. It quickly disintegrated in the open air, and to achieve its effect, one had to drink the water directly from the source.





But there was no problem the savvy Americans couldn't solve. In 1912, enterprising businessmen began selling a device called the "Revigator." It was a vessel containing radium, into which water was poured. Under the influence of the radioactive element, the water became charged and could be used to treat various ailments. The device was advertised as a "home source of eternal health." One of the victims of this diabolical invention was poor Eben Byers.

Mr. Byers' Treatment

Eben Byers was born into a wealthy aristocratic family on April 12, 1880. He grew up a darling of fortune—he had everything he could wish for. Byers graduated from the prestigious Yale University, enjoyed equestrianism, and was a professional golfer. Over time, he joined the family business and became a member of the board of directors of his father's company, the Girard Iron Company.



It seemed that Eben would have a long and enjoyable life. But everything changed in 1927. Returning from a football game, Byers fell from his bunk on a train and broke his arm. The fracture healed, but he began to experience severe pain in his elbow. One doctor, in keeping with the spirit of the time, advised a patient to treat himself with water infused with radium, sold in pharmacies under the name "Raditor."

The drug was created by William D. A. Bailey, a former Harvard dropout. It consisted of distilled water infused with a radium isotope. Bailey claimed that "Raditor" helped with dozens of ailments, including impotence and epilepsy. He had a poor reputation, but he had a keen business acumen. Doctors who prescribed the drug received a 17 percent commission on each bottle from the author.



Eben Byers tried the drug, which, by the way, wasn't cheap. Oddly enough, he felt relief and began taking Radithor in huge doses. Before he realized something was wrong, he'd consumed 1,400 bottles! When Byers realized in 1930 that the drug was wreaking havoc on his body, it was too late. Years later, scientists calculated that he'd ingested three lethal doses of radium.

His bones were ravaged by cancer, especially his jaws. Byers developed a fatal condition known as "radium jaw." His bones literally rotted, and surgeons were forced to remove the lower part of his skull. But this didn't save Eben. Soon, an abscess developed in his brain, and two holes appeared in his skull. Byers died a painful death on March 31, 1932. He was 51 years old.



Society Resonates

The horrific story of Eben Byers rocked American society. Newspapers began to publish articles about the unfortunate man. One headline read: "Radium Water Worked Wonderfully Until His Jaw Dropped." Around the same time, the "radium girls" scandal erupted. This led to the banning of radium-containing products, and the element itself was declared deadly.



Bailey's company was shut down, but the crook didn't lose his nerve. He immediately began producing radioactive paperweights, belts laced with radioactive isotopes, and other such trifles. The unfortunate victim of his "cure" found peace in Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh. Byers was buried in the family plot, but with special precautions. The body was placed in a lead coffin, which could reduce radiation exposure.

In 1965, Eben's remains were exhumed for study. It was discovered that, even after more than 30 years, the body was still so radioactive that it posed a danger. Oddly enough, after the Byers case and the scandal, radium products continued to be sold. As late as the early 1980s, cigarette holders with radioactive filters were still available in the US. The manufacturer claimed that radium would not only protect against harmful substances but also make the smoke smoother and more pleasant.