As humans evolve, so does the world we live in. Because of this, things that were once normal a hundred years ago are now considered insane and crazy in today’s world. However, these changes just go to show how much humanity and human minds are capable of improving!
Dentists Used Cocaine as Anesthetics
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, people had limited options when it came to medicine. Thus, cocaine was one of the things used by dentists as a local anesthetic. It has numbing properties, which make it very effective for dulling pain during procedures; it also has anti-inflammatory properties that help with bleeding and healing. However, today, we know that cocaine is highly addictive, and because of its use a century ago, many patients suffered from addiction, cardiovascular diseases, and other health issues.
Radium Was Used for Energy Drinks
Consumables from 100 years ago didn’t pass through rigorous production processes and safety checks, unlike today, and one example of this is energy drinks. One of the famous energy drinks in the 1920s and 1930s was RadiThor, a drink composed solely of ingredients like water and dissolved radium—a radioactive element that deteriorates bones when consumed. Eben Byers, a wealthy socialite who was duped by RadiThor’s effects, succumbed to death after two to three years of addiction; his body weakened, his teeth fell off, and holes were found in his skull after medical examinations. The University of Texas Medical Branch shares, “Estimates are his body contained 4 times the lethal dose of radium, but in 1965, when they exhumed his body, the levels were 2 times higher than even that. He continues to be highly radioactive in his lead-lined coffin.”
Hysteria Was a Convenient Lie to Control Women
One hundred years ago, women who exhibited easily explained medical symptoms like amnesia, paralysis, trauma, or even fainting were labeled as ‘hysterical’ and were locked away. The dark truth behind this is that these actions were a ruthless method used to control women whose behavior defied social norms. Psychology Today mentions the Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris as the central domain of this heartbreaking history. With the lack of women’s rights back then, many women who ended up in Salpêtrière carried the scars of fear and unimaginable hardships after experiencing neglect, harassment, and prejudice in a world where they were supposed to be empowered and protected.
Intelligence Was Measured Through Race, Body Proportions, and Head Sizes
Imagine applying for your dream job, but instead of looking at your resume, the employer evaluates your capabilities based on the size of your head. That’s the ironic side of anthropometry—a method used 100 years ago to judge people’s intellect through skull sizes, race, and even the size of one’s pinky finger. Those who were deemed unfit by their anthropometric standards faced a life of limited opportunities, were shunned in social circles, and were even forced to undergo sterilizations regardless of their brilliance and raw talents.
There Was No Indoor Plumbing
Plumbing was an everyday chore before the modernized luxury of convenient morning showers and flushable toilets. One hundred years ago, houses had no toilets—only chamber pots emptied under the cover of night, reeking unpleasant odors everywhere. Thankfully, the innovation of indoor plumbing in the 19th century revolutionized sanitation, turning an everyday chore into a point of convenience that forever changed our homes, hygiene, and overall well-being.
Violence and Corporal Punishment Were Normal Ways to Discipline Kids
Whipping, beatings, and public humiliations were all considered normal long ago—and for some, these were even disguised as disciplinary tactics. Today, though, even thinking of lashing out at a child or beating them might have you end up in jail! BBC says, “In 1900, corporal punishment was still used as a form of punishment—including in prisons; it was generally viewed as a cheap and effective deterrent, particularly for young offenders. Even some liberal-minded people believed it was less brutal than a long prison sentence; forms of corporal punishment included beating, whipping, and birching, or striking a person with a birch rod.”
There Were No Laws for Child Labor; Therefore, Many Were Deprived of Education
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “In 1900, 25,000 of the nearly 100,000 textile workers in the South were children under 16; by 1904, the overall employment of children had increased to 50,000, with 20,000 children under 12 employed.” Through this, it’s clear that a hundred or so years ago, childhood was commonly spent in factories, not classrooms. Despite how bright a child’s dream was, the luxury of education could be easily stripped away from them because there were no laws protecting them from child labor. Thankfully, today, while the legacy of child labor still lingers around the world, the fight for education as a right and not a privilege continues.
People Thought That the Milky Way Galaxy Was the Entire Universe
The night sky and shining stars were the only things that made up our universe a century ago. This is because, back then, people believed that the band of stars we call the Milky Way today was all there was to outer space. However, with the power of new telescopes, astronomers like Edwin Hubble were able to peek through the vast galaxies, shattering the long-held belief that the Milky Way is the only thing in the cosmos. This, however, only happened in the 1920s, and before that, the Milky Way was the only galaxy that ever existed in the minds of humanity.
Dynamites Were Normally Sold in Stores
Today, the word “dynamite” evokes threats and freaks people out in an instant. However, 100 years ago, dynamites were sold in hardware stores, which were surprisingly common. Miners casually purchased dynamites instead of hefty pickaxes. They treated them as a helpful tool for digging before dynamite’s destructive effects were discovered.
People Stopped by and Visited Houses Unannounced
Although we love hanging out with our friends and acquaintances, suddenly visiting unannounced could disrupt their already busy schedules and privacy. However, with the limited communication platforms 100 years ago, suddenly popping up in houses was a more common and acceptable practice. Aside from being normal and acceptable, sometimes, it’s even encouraged and enjoyed!
Rigid Beauty Standards Were Always Upheld
A hundred or so years ago, society had way more rigid beauty standards than it does today. Back then, beauty was more than a personal preference; it was a social currency. Because of this, there became a pressure for perfection when it came to body shapes, physical features, and etiquette. Sadly, during these times, those who fail to meet these standards are often ostracized, failing to find marriage partners.
Leeches Were Used by Doctors for Bloodletting
Before high-end machines were invented in the medical sector, leeches were known as a hospital’s go-to bloodsucker. Five to six million leeches were used to draw more than three hundred thousand liters of blood annually in Parisian hospitals alone. While it sounds terrifying, it was the only bloodletting method available. Some patients even lost a staggering 80% of their blood in one leeching session!
Heroin Was an Over-The-Counter Medicine for Cough
Believe it or not, the highly addictive heroin we know today was once marketed as a cough suppressant. Called “Heroin Cough Syrup,” this toxic substance was thought to be safe and a non-addictive alternative to morphine. However, after years of usage, this drug unleashed a devastating health crisis on its users that came in the form of organ damage, a weakened immune system, and euphoria. This disaster eventually led to more rigorous testing of medicines before they were displayed on shelves.
Cigarettes Were Used to Alleviate Asthma
Today, we recognize that cigarettes have harmful effects on one’s health. However, in the olden days, medical practitioners actually prescribed smoking as a treatment for asthma. Early 20th-century physicians believed that the bronchodilatory effect of cigarettes could alleviate the symptoms of the said condition. However, just like most medical assumptions, this belief was eventually discredited as medical research revealed the harmful effects of smoking on respiratory health.
Gasolines Were Bought per Can
An article from the Smithsonian Magazine explains, “American motorists had been able to pump their own gas at filling stations since 1905, but those were little more than a pump at the curbside. Before that, motorists bought gasoline in cans from pharmacies and blacksmith shops and filled up themselves.” This practice happened when gasoline was primarily used as a cleaning solvent rather than a fuel for vehicles. However, as the demand for automobiles surged and gas stations emerged, the era of purchasing gas in cans gradually decreased and ultimately disappeared.
Racial Segregation Was More Intense
Racial segregation from 100 years ago was so severe that you can even see signs on parks and bathrooms stating, “For Whites Only.” Back then, America was a very different place, and discrimination was a suffocating reality because of legal systems and codes, such as the Jim Crow Laws and the Black Codes, which mandated racial segregation in public places. Because of this unjust legislation, people and places were segregated and thought to be “separate but equal.” Black Americans were denied fundamental rights and experienced inequality in the right to vote, receive a quality education, and have economic opportunities.
The Doe-Eye Effect Was Done Using Belladonna
Big doe-eyes also became a part of beauty trends 100 years ago. However, the trick women used to achieve this enchanting look was rather dangerous. Before the Belladonna flower’s terrifying effects were exposed, women from the past century used it as an eye drop to achieve their coveted wide-eye appearance, unknowingly trading compliments for blurred visions, hallucinations, and even permanent blindness.
Criminals Were Punished Through Public Executions
While public executions might seem like fiction depicted in movies, they were actually a grim reality 100 years ago. Crowds would gather to witness these events, often seen as entertainment or a form of justice being served. However, as time passed, awareness of human rights grew. This meant that laws had to change and evolve, too, leading to public executions becoming a thing of the past.
Movies Were Not Just Black and White but Also Silent
Unlike the fully immersive audiovisual movies of today, early versions lacked synchronized sound and were given life by live music, narrators, expressions, and title cards to provide dialogue. The Birth of a Nation, directed by D.W. Griffith, is one of history’s most famous silent movies. It was released in 1915 and was based on the book by Thomas Dixon, Jr., titled The Clansman.
Women Could Only Dance if They Wanted to Catch a Gentleman’s Attention
Today, expressing romantic feelings freely is normal, regardless of gender. However, in the past, strict social norms dictated that women shouldn’t express their feelings first, and those who did would be considered disgraceful. So, instead of boldly confessing, women from the 1900s captured the man of their interest through dancing. After showcasing their charm and personality, the man of their interest, following social etiquette, would approach first, marking the beginning of their blossoming romance.
