Glow with health using violet rays (1920 ish, through to 1960's) (thelemmy.club)

submitted 2 days ago by EnmebaraGuesser@piefed.ca to c/vintageads@sh.itjust.works

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Another quack cure from the early / mid 1900's. You can find them still in antique markets. It seems to be a UV light wand. UV light is harmful to eyes and can be carcinogenic, causing skin cancers. There are a few skin conditions that spot UV is used to treat today, but most of this ad is harmful quackery!

The ailments the wand claims to cure:

Asthma
Boils
Blackheads
Catarrh
Colds
Eczema
Failing Hair
Hayfever
Headaches
Insomnia
Lumbago
Nervousness
Neuralgia
Paralysis
Pimples
Rheumatism
Skin Diseases
Sore Throat
Other ailments

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[-] verity_kindle@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago

Psoriasis and acne, yes, maybe it would be worth the risk, but no $0.05 set of glasses? This made it for so many years without including any info about the spectrum or wavelength of the light? Just make it up! The readers of "Physical Culture" would not respond to a pitch like that?

this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2026

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