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The turn of the 20th century was a defining period in medical history, with major strides in surgery, hygiene, and scientific accuracy helping doctors save and improve more lives than ever before. However, not every medical theory from that time proved to be true. Here are six that ultimately missed the mark.
1. Bicycles Cause Facial Deformities in Women
During the 1890s, more and more women began embracing bicycles as a means of transportation, granting them newfound independence. Some in the male-dominated medical community felt threatened by this and began warning of 'bicycle face'—a supposed permanent distortion of the face caused by the strain of riding. These bizarre claims were published in medical journals and mainstream media throughout the late 1890s, later evolving into similar fabricated conditions like 'automobile face' and, by 1908, 'aeroplane face.'
2. Electrified Jockstraps as a Cure for Erectile Dysfunction
Men, too, fell victim to dubious medical claims. In the early 1900s, some of the biggest mail-order catalogs in the country marketed 'electric belts' to men, promising to cure ailments like kidney disease, impotence, and back pain. These belts were essentially pricey jockstraps rigged to deliver small electric shocks to the wearer. While the belts might have found a market, they certainly didn't live up to their therapeutic promises.
3. Heroin as a Miracle Cure for Addiction
When heroin was introduced to the market in 1898, it was initially hailed by doctors as a miraculous remedy. It was marketed as an effective cough suppressant and a less addictive alternative to morphine for pain relief. At the time, morphine addiction was a global epidemic, and physicians were eager to find a solution to help addicts. (Sigmund Freud had even experimented with using cocaine to treat morphine addiction, though he quickly realized it was a disastrous idea.)
Heroin seemed like a promising alternative, so much so that one charitable organization even suggested sending free doses of heroin to morphine addicts as a way to help them wean off the drug. But by 1902, doctors realized that heroin was just as addictive as morphine. By 1919, it was illegal to prescribe heroin to those struggling with morphine addiction.
4. Contaminated Meat Causes Scurvy
Scurvy has long been a notorious affliction for sailors and soldiers who had limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. While doctors had known for centuries that scurvy could be treated with fresh fruit, the true cause of the disease and the reason why fresh fruit worked remained unclear. A common belief at the time was that tainted meat, often found in the diets of soldiers and sailors far from fresh supplies, was to blame for scurvy. It wasn't until 1906, when British researcher Frederick Hopkins discovered vitamins, that scientists realized scurvy—and other similar diseases—were not caused by germs, but by the lack of essential vitamin C.
5. Pregnant Women Transfer Their Emotions to Their Babies
Until the early 1900s, some doctors wrongly believed that if a pregnant woman experienced strong emotions, such as shock or sadness, her child would be born with corresponding personality traits like anxiety or depression.
The theory of 'maternal impression' went even further in some cases, suggesting that a mother’s emotional experiences could affect her baby’s physical traits. For example, it was believed that a mother who witnessed a man losing his right hand in an accident would give birth to a child without a right hand (a claim found in a 1900 pediatrics journal). As medical understanding of genetics advanced in the early 20th century, the maternal impression theory gradually faded from scientific thought.
6. X-Rays Are Beneficial for Your Skin
In 1895, German scientist Wilhelm Röntgen discovered X-rays, and it wasn’t long before doctors found practical applications for this groundbreaking form of radiation. By 1900, specialists were using X-rays for procedures like removing unwanted hair from female patients and treating acne. While X-rays were effective in removing hair, the health risks associated with the radiation far outweighed any cosmetic advantages. Despite their widespread use for acne treatment, the effectiveness of X-rays in this regard was never definitively proven, and by the mid-20th century, medical professionals had abandoned the practice due to the risks involved.
