

A lawyer for the Federal Trade Commission investigating fraud accusations against Bailey interviewed Byers in 1931 and was shocked by the businessman’s condition.Īccording to Winn’s report, Eben Byers’ entire lower jaw and chin rotted away due to radium poisoning. Byers was diagnosed with radium poisoning by Frederick Flinn, who had tested Grace Fryer for U.S. So he drank 1,400 bottles of Radithor before succumbing to the effects in 1930.Īs a result of the so-called “energy drink,” Byers’ teeth fell out, and his overall health began to suffer. He used three bottles of Radithor every day for two years and was so happy with the results that he gave cases to his friends, held it on board for his ladies, and even fed it to his racing horses.īyers was adamant that the Radithor was the real reason behind his energy and overall health, and he couldn’t suggest the tonic enough. national amateur golf champion Eben Byers injured his arm in 1928, his doctor advised him to drink Radithor.

According to a Radithor ad, “in this bottle resides the greatest medicinal force known to mankind- radiation.” That turned out to be incorrect, as evidenced by the horrible destiny of Radithor’s most ardent consumer. It was sold in small 2 oz bottles and was guaranteed to have at least one microcurie of Ra-226 and Ra-228.īailey claimed that the tonic offered customers an energy boost and treated dozens of diseases, including anorexia, hysteria, and insomnia. Radithor, distilled water containing two radioactive chemicals, radium, and mesothorium, is probably the most well-known example of radioactive quackery. The controversy aided in the modernization of radioactive material control. Bailey became wealthy from his radium-laced patent drug Radithor, which murdered a prominent sportsman and socialite in 1932. It’s ridiculous to imagine how the privileged and influential people spent fortunes on radium-infused distilled water touted as a cure for various diseases.
