Man Drank So Much Radioactive Liquid His Jaw “Fell off” And His Body Started “Rotting” from the Inside Out
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Man Drank So Much Radioactive Liquid His Jaw “Fell off” And His Body Started “Rotting” from the Inside Out | Indian Defence Review
He believed he had found the ultimate health elixir, drinking it daily for years. At first, he felt stronger, more energized—until his bones began to dissolve. His teeth fell out, his jaw crumbled, and his body became dangerously radioactive. What seemed like a breakthrough became one of history’s most horrifying medical disasters.
Arezki Amiri
Published on February 7, 2025
In the early 20th century, radium was seen as a miracle element, a glowing gift of science that promised to heal, energize, and even enhance vitality. From radium-infused water to beauty creams and chocolates, it was marketed as the ultimate tonic for a healthier life.
But for Eben Byers, an affluent American socialite, that promise turned into a slow and agonizing death—one so gruesome that his story became a defining moment in the fight for consumer safety.
The Golden Age of Radium
At the time, medicine and science were still grasping the full effects of radiation exposure. The world was fascinated by the discoveries of Marie Curie, who had isolated radium and paved the way for early nuclear research. Though her own research had hinted at the dangers of prolonged exposure, the commercial world was more interested in its supposed benefits.
One of the most infamous products to emerge was Radithor, a radioactive tonic that claimed to boost energy and vitality. Created by William J.A. Bailey, a Harvard dropout with no medical degree, the product contained radium dissolved in water. It was an instant hit, selling over 400,000 bottles to eager customers who believed it was a revolutionary cure-all.
Eben Byers and His Deadly Habit
Byers was an athlete, a wealthy industrialist, and a man who enjoyed the high life. When he suffered an injury after falling from a train, he turned to Radithor, believing it would help him recover. Not only did he claim it alleviated his pain, but rumors swirled that he also believed it had a stimulant effect on his romantic life.
Convinced of its benefits, Byers drank three bottles of Radithor a day for nearly two years, consuming an estimated 1,400 bottles of the radioactive elixir. He had no idea that with every sip, he was poisoning himself at a cellular level.
The Horrifying Effects of Radium Poisoning
At first, Byers felt energized—a common short-term effect of radiation exposure. But over time, his body began to deteriorate in ways that no one had ever seen before.
- He rapidly lost weight, despite no change in his diet.
- He developed severe pain in his jaw and sinuses.
- His teeth began to fall out, and soon, his entire jaw started to crumble.
X-rays revealed that his bones were disintegrating from the inside out, mirroring the condition suffered by the Radium Girls—female factory workers who unknowingly ingested radium while painting watch dials with glow-in-the-dark paint.
Despite these horrific symptoms, Byers continued drinking Radithor, convinced that the very poison killing him would somehow make him better.
The Investigation That Changed Everything
At the time, the FDA had little power to regulate products like Radithor, as radium wasn’t classified as a food or drug. But when Byers’ case gained attention, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched an investigation.
An attorney was sent to Byers’ home and found him in an unspeakable state:
- His head was wrapped in bandages to hide the damage.
- He had already undergone two major jaw surgeries.
- His remaining bones were so brittle that his skull was literally forming holes.
On his deathbed, Byers provided a damning statement against Radithor, leading to its ban and marking a turning point in consumer protection laws.
The Aftermath: Radium’s Fall from Grace
Byers died in 1932, his body so radioactive that it was later declared to contain more radium than any human ever recorded—enough to kill three men.
As for William J.A. Bailey, the man responsible for Radithor? He denied that the product had anything to do with Byers’ death until the very end. Ironically, he himself died of cancer in 1949, and when his body was exhumed 20 years later, it was still highly radioactive.
Byers’ tragic case, along with the suffering of the Radium Girls, forced the United States government to tighten regulations on radioactive substances, leading to the FDA gaining greater control over pharmaceuticals.
Today, we recognize the dangers of radiation exposure, but a century ago, it was marketed as a miracle cure. Eben Byers’ story is a chilling reminder of what happens when scientific progress is misused in the pursuit of profit.
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