1. Tobacco Smoke Enemas
Yes, you read that right. In the 1800s, doctors literally blew tobacco smoke into a patient’s rectum to revive them from drowning, according to Emily McCrary-Ruiz-Esparza from Discover Magazine. The belief was that tobacco warmed the body and stimulated the heart. Kits for this were actually installed along the River Thames like emergency defibrillators.
Eventually, the practice fell out of favor when people realized it was ineffective—and dangerous. But for years, it was considered cutting-edge medicine. It’s probably the most absurd entry on this list, and that’s saying something. Who knew the phrase “blowing smoke” had such literal roots?
2. Electric Belts
In the late 1800s, electric belts were all the rage among men who wanted to cure everything from back pain to impotence, according to Lauren Young from Atlas Obscura. These belts claimed to deliver healing electric currents straight to the body via battery-powered attachments. Of course, they didn’t work—but that didn’t stop companies from marketing them as miracle cures. They were often advertised in newspapers with glowing testimonials, most of which were completely fabricated.
The belts were especially popular during the Victorian obsession with “vitality” and masculinity. Men believed that strapping a buzzing belt around their waist could restore their vigor. Some models even included metal coils and vibrating attachments for extra “oomph.” Today, they seem more like torture devices than medical solutions.
3. Vinegar Valentines
These weren’t your typical love notes—in fact, they were intentionally cruel. Vinegar valentines were insulting cards that people would send anonymously to enemies or undesired admirers, Becky Little of Smithsonian Magazine explains. They often featured cartoonish illustrations and mean-spirited rhymes. It was basically 19th-century trolling via the U.S. Postal Service.
These cards poked fun at everything from someone’s weight to their lack of intelligence. Postal workers reportedly hated them because they caused so much drama. Some even refused to deliver them. Still, Americans bought them by the thousands every February.
4. Arsenic Wafers
Yes, Americans willingly consumed arsenic in the 1800s—for beauty. Arsenic complexion wafers were marketed to women who wanted clearer skin and a paler, more “refined” look, Emma Beddington of The Guardian explains. The wafers were tiny pills laced with low doses of arsenic, and they were sold in elegant tins to make them seem legit. The idea was that a pale face equaled purity and wealth.
Doctors knew arsenic was toxic, but the products slipped through the cracks of regulation. Users often experienced nausea, dizziness, and even hair loss. Still, they were sold for decades. It’s a horrifying reminder of how far people would go for an impossible beauty standard.
5. Cocaine Toothache Drops
Before cocaine was criminalized, it was a go-to household remedy. These toothache drops were heavily marketed for children with sore gums or erupting teeth. Parents were instructed to apply the drops directly to the gums—and yes, they worked fast. That’s because cocaine is a powerful numbing agent.
What’s wild is that this wasn’t seen as dangerous at the time. The drops were sold over the counter and often included in home remedy kits. They typically came in tiny glass bottles with ornate labels. Looking back, it’s hard to believe anyone thought this was safe for toddlers.
6. Anti-Freckle Creams (with Mercury)
Freckles were seen as unsightly in the 19th century, and some women went to extreme lengths to erase them. Enter anti-freckle creams—many of which contained mercury, a known toxin. These creams promised to “purify” the skin and give it a porcelain finish. Unfortunately, they also poisoned users slowly over time.
Symptoms included peeling skin, tremors, and even kidney damage. But ads focused on transformation, with before-and-after illustrations of flawless skin. The idea of natural beauty was almost non-existent; everything had to be polished and perfected. And the price for that perfection was dangerously high.
7. The Mustache Trainer
In the 1800s, facial hair was a statement, and a well-groomed mustache was essential for fashionable men. The mustache trainer was a wire contraption that men wore, usually overnight, to “train” their facial hair into the perfect curl. Think of it like a retainer—but for your lip. Some versions had wax applicators built in for extra hold.
This was no joke—gentlemen took their grooming seriously. Magazines even offered tips on how to maintain your trainer and achieve the ideal look. While silly now, it highlights the Victorian obsession with presentation and control. Today’s beard oil has nothing on this level of commitment.
8. Mechanical Corsets
Corsets were bad enough, but someone decided they needed gears. Mechanical corsets featured tightening systems with levers, cranks, and pulleys to cinch the waist with precision. These were sold as high-tech solutions for achieving the ideal hourglass figure. The idea was that you didn’t need a maid—you just needed some machinery.
Women were promised that these corsets would reduce their waistline dramatically without “exertion.” But the result was often broken ribs, fainting spells, and long-term organ damage. Manufacturers marketed them as modern and empowering. In reality, they were torture devices in disguise.
9. Hair Growing Combs
Much like today’s infomercial gimmicks, hair-growing combs promised the impossible. These combs were infused with copper, zinc, and sometimes even electricity. The claim? That brushing with this “charged” tool would stimulate follicles and regrow lost hair. Spoiler: it didn’t work.
They were especially popular with balding men in the 1870s and 1880s. Advertisements featured dramatic before-and-after illustrations that were entirely fake. Some even threw in phony endorsements from “doctors.” In hindsight, it was just wishful thinking combed into a scam.
10. Snake Oil Liniment
The term “snake oil” didn’t come from nowhere—it was a real product, and people bought it in droves. Snake oil liniment was marketed as a cure-all for everything from joint pain to insomnia. Traveling salesmen would put on elaborate shows to demonstrate its “healing” powers. These were some of the earliest infomercials, long before TV.
The problem? Most bottles didn’t even contain snake oil—just alcohol, camphor, and sometimes turpentine. But the placebo effect (and aggressive marketing) did the trick. It’s a classic example of 1800s health fraud with lasting cultural impact.
11. Ear Trumpets
Before hearing aids, people used ear trumpets—big, cone-shaped devices you’d stick in your ear to amplify sound. They worked, sort of, but were awkward and clunky. Made of tin, brass, or even silver, they looked more like musical instruments than medical tools. You had to carry them around and point them at the sound source.
Despite their ridiculous appearance, they were one of the few options available for hearing loss. Some were collapsible for travel, while others were disguised as hair accessories. They didn’t work well, but they were better than nothing. Still, shouting into a metal horn seems like a less-than-subtle way to have a conversation.
12. Radium Water
In the early 1900s (close enough to include), people actually drank radioactive water. “Radithor” and similar products promised boundless energy and cured ailments like arthritis and fatigue. The glowing drink came in small glass bottles and was wildly expensive. It was even endorsed by elite athletes and businessmen.
One wealthy man, Eben Byers, famously drank over a thousand bottles—before his jaw disintegrated and he died from radiation poisoning. His case led to the product being pulled from shelves. Still, the idea of bottling radiation for health was disturbingly popular. It’s probably the most dangerous “wellness” fad of the era.
13. Dr. Scott’s Magnetic Hair Brush
This brush promised more than smooth strands—it claimed to stimulate the scalp and restore hair through magnetic energy. The idea was that magnets inside the brush would transfer “healing currents” to the user’s head. Never mind that there was no scientific basis for any of this. People were convinced that magnets could cure almost anything.
Dr. Scott marketed his brush as a cure for baldness, dandruff, and even brain fog. It was a hit among middle-class Americans eager for a quick fix to hair loss. Spoiler alert: it didn’t regrow a single strand. But the brush did become a symbol of the 1800s obsession with pseudo-scientific wellness gadgets.
