Revigator

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The Radium Ore Revigator was a pseudoscientific medical device consisting of a ceramic water crock lined with radioactive materials. It was patented in 1912 and manufactured by the Radium Ore Revigator Co., which sold thousands of the devices till the 1930s.

The Revigator was intended to be filled with water overnight, which would be irradiated by the uranium and radium in the liner, and then consumed the next day. This was marketed as a healthy practice which could prevent illnesses including arthritis, flatulence, and senility. Although the water contained higher levels of radon, the health risk from radiation was low. But the water also contained arsenic, lead, vanadium, and uranium.^[1]

My friend's copper and brass Revigator (shown here) is among the rarest of the radioactive jars. I didn't even know it existed until my friend brought it out. Like a thermos, its main advantage is portability. Whereas the standard Revigator was too big and heavy to take anywhere. SWIPE to see my Revigator, an ad, and a stainless steel "thermos" disassembled. The Radium Ore Revigator was a pseudoscientific medical device consisting of a ceramic water crock lined with radioactive materials. It was patented in 1912 and manufactured by the Radium Ore Revigator Co., which sold thousands of the devices till the 1930s. The Revigator was intended to be filled with water overnight, which would be irradiated by the uranium and radium in the liner, and then consumed the next day. This was marketed as a healthy practice which could prevent illnesses including arthritis, flatulence, and senility. Although the water contained higher levels of radon, the health risk from radiation was low. But the water also contained arsenic, lead, vanadium, and uranium. #whatisitwednesday #whatisit #whatsit #antiques #antique #curiosity #curiosities #oddity #oddities #mystery #museum #history #cabinetofcuriosities #cabinetofcuriosity #whatthemuseum #wunderlust #wunderlusting #wunderkammer #weirdantiques #unusualantiques #revigator #quackery

A post shared by Worn Over Time (@worn_over_time) on Apr 14, 2017 at 1:23am PDT

Take a look at radium and radioactive quack medical devices from “Quackery Gallery.” Hosted by Bob McCoy, Curator of the Museum of Questionable Medical Devices.

^{(Source Video Embed Code from https://youtu.be/uu96STA5BDA)}