Eben Byers: Difference between revisions
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In 1927, while returning via chartered train from the annual [[Harvard-Yale football games (The Game)|Harvard-Yale football game]], Byers fell from his [[Berth (sleeping)|berth]] and injured his arm. He complained of persistent pain and a doctor suggested that he take [[Radithor]], a [[patent medicine]] manufactured by [[William J. A. Bailey]].<ref name=time>{{cite news |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,743525,00.html |title=Radium Drinks |date=April 11, 1932 |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|accessdate=2008-06-22}}</ref> Bailey was a [[Harvard University]] dropout who falsely claimed to be a doctor of medicine and became rich from the sale of Radithor. Bailey created Radithor by dissolving radium in water to high concentrations, claiming it could cure many ailments by stimulating the [[endocrine system]]. He offered physicians a 17% rebate on the prescription of each dose of Radithor.{{fact|date=November 2008}} |
In 1927, while returning via chartered train from the annual [[Harvard-Yale football games (The Game)|Harvard-Yale football game]], Byers fell from his [[Berth (sleeping)|berth]] and injured his arm. He complained of persistent pain and a doctor suggested that he take [[Radithor]], a [[patent medicine]] manufactured by [[William J. A. Bailey]].<ref name=time>{{cite news |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,743525,00.html |title=Radium Drinks |date=April 11, 1932 |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|accessdate=2008-06-22}}</ref> Bailey was a [[Harvard University]] dropout who falsely claimed to be a doctor of medicine and became rich from the sale of Radithor. Bailey created Radithor by dissolving radium in water to high concentrations, claiming it could cure many ailments by stimulating the [[endocrine system]]. He offered physicians a 17% rebate on the prescription of each dose of Radithor.{{fact|date=November 2008}} |
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Byers began taking enormous doses of Radithor, which he believed had greatly improved his health, drinking nearly 1400 bottles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.museumofquackery.com/devices/radium.htm |title=Radium Cures |publisher=museumofquackery.com}}</ref> In the process, he subjected himself to more than three times the acute lethal radiation dose. By 1930, when Byers stopped taking the remedy, he had accumulated significant amounts of radium in his bones resulting in the loss of most of his jaw. Byers' brain was also [[abscess]]ed and holes were forming in his skull. He died from radium poisoning on March 31, 1932.<ref name=time /> He is buried in [[Allegheny Cemetery]] in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], in a lead-lined coffin. |
Byers began taking enormous doses of Radithor, which he believed had greatly improved his health, drinking nearly 1400 bottles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.museumofquackery.com/devices/radium.htm |title=Radium Cures |publisher=museumofquackery.com}}</ref> In the process, he subjected himself to more than three times the acute lethal radiation dose. By 1930, when Byers stopped taking the remedy, he had accumulated significant amounts of radium in his bones resulting in the loss of most of his jaw. Byers' brain was also [[abscess]]ed and holes were forming in his skull. He died from radium poisoning on March 31, 1932.<ref name=time /> He is buried in [[Allegheny Cemetery]] in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], in a lead-lined coffin.{{fact}} |
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Due to Byers' prominence, his death received much publicity. ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' ran a headline reading "The Radium Water Worked Fine until His Jaw Came Off" after his death.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2003/06/09/343948/index.htm |title=A Little Poison Can Be Good For You The received wisdom about toxins and radiation may be all wet |last=Stipp |first=David |date=June 9, 2003 |work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |accessdate=2008-06-22}}</ref> |
Due to Byers' prominence, his death received much publicity. ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' ran a headline reading "The Radium Water Worked Fine until His Jaw Came Off" after his death.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2003/06/09/343948/index.htm |title=A Little Poison Can Be Good For You The received wisdom about toxins and radiation may be all wet |last=Stipp |first=David |date=June 9, 2003 |work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |accessdate=2008-06-22}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 14:06, 6 June 2009
Eben Byers | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 12, 1880 |
| Died | March 31, 1932 (aged 51) |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Eben McBurney Byers |
| Occupation(s) | Industrialist Athlete |
Eben McBurney Byers (April 12, 1880 – March 31, 1932) was a wealthy American socialite, athlete, and industrialist. Byers earned notoriety in the early 1930s when he died from radiation poisoning after consuming a popular patent medicine made from radium dissolved in water.
Biography
The son of industrialist Alexander Byers, Eben Byers was educated at St. Paul's School and Yale College,[1] where he earned a reputation as an athlete and ladies' man. He was the U.S. Amateur Golf Champion of 1906, after finishing runner-up in 1902 and 1903.[2]Byers eventually became the chairman of the Girard Iron Company, which had been created by his father.[1]
In 1927, while returning via chartered train from the annual Harvard-Yale football game, Byers fell from his berth and injured his arm. He complained of persistent pain and a doctor suggested that he take Radithor, a patent medicine manufactured by William J. A. Bailey.[3] Bailey was a Harvard University dropout who falsely claimed to be a doctor of medicine and became rich from the sale of Radithor. Bailey created Radithor by dissolving radium in water to high concentrations, claiming it could cure many ailments by stimulating the endocrine system. He offered physicians a 17% rebate on the prescription of each dose of Radithor.[citation needed]
Byers began taking enormous doses of Radithor, which he believed had greatly improved his health, drinking nearly 1400 bottles.[4] In the process, he subjected himself to more than three times the acute lethal radiation dose. By 1930, when Byers stopped taking the remedy, he had accumulated significant amounts of radium in his bones resulting in the loss of most of his jaw. Byers' brain was also abscessed and holes were forming in his skull. He died from radium poisoning on March 31, 1932.[3] He is buried in Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in a lead-lined coffin.[citation needed]
Due to Byers' prominence, his death received much publicity. The Wall Street Journal ran a headline reading "The Radium Water Worked Fine until His Jaw Came Off" after his death.[5] His illness and eventual death also led to a heightened awareness of the dangers of radiation poisoning, and to the adoption of laws that increased the powers of the FDA.[6]
William Bailey was never tried for Byers' death, although the Federal Trade Commission issued an order against his business. However this did not stop Bailey from trading radioactive products. Later on, he marketed radioactive belt-clip, radioactive paperweight and a mechanism which made water radioactive under his new company 'Radium Institute' in New York.[7]
See also
References
- ^ a b Leonard, John William (1922). Who's Who in Finance and Banking. Who's Who in Finance Inc. p. 110.
- ^ Wade, Don. And Then Arnie Told Chi Chi... McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 33. ISBN 0-809-23549-8.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Radium Drinks". Time. April 11, 1932. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
- ^ "Radium Cures". museumofquackery.com.
- ^ Stipp, David (June 9, 2003). "A Little Poison Can Be Good For You The received wisdom about toxins and radiation may be all wet". Fortune. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
- ^ Wade, Don. And Then Arnie Told Chi Chi... McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 34. ISBN 0-809-23549-8.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Harvie, David I. (2005). Deadly Sunshine: The History and Fatal Legacy of Radium (1 ed.). Tempus Publishing Limited. pp. 160–161. ISBN 0752433954.
Further reading
- Roger M. Macklis, "The Great Radium Scandal", Scientific American, 269(2), pp. 94–99, Aug. 1993.