Nineteenth Century
Dr. L. A. Sayre’s Apparatus
Not sure how long the patient was to remain suspended in order to achieve results.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Oct 09, 2022 -
Comments (3)
Category: Inventions, Medicine, Nineteenth Century
The Blood Book by John Bingley Garland
Read the fully story here, with all the illos.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Sep 28, 2022 -
Comments (1)
Category: Eccentrics, Outsider Art, Books, Nineteenth Century, Blood
An Account of Some Well-Authenticated Miracles
This small book gives details on a few miraculous incidents "authenticated" by the Catholic Church.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Sep 18, 2022 -
Comments (2)
Category: Religion, Supernatural, Occult, Paranormal, Unexplained Historical Enigmas, Nineteenth Century
The Pneumatic Dispatch
A detailed plan for building underground air-propelled railways.Read the whole thing here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Sep 05, 2022 -
Comments (1)
Category: Inventions, Trains and Other Vehicles on Rails, Nineteenth Century
Magical Healing Powers of Blue Light
Read the whole thing here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Aug 26, 2022 -
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Category: Patent Medicines, Nostrums and Snake Oil, Books, Nineteenth Century
Josiah Oldfield, the Fruitarian Hospital and Kissing
Fruitarianism is a kind of vegetarian practice which today seems very strict. But 100 years ago, when Josiah Oldfield practiced it, there was more variety allowed in the diet.Oldfield advocated for fruitarianism, putting him at odds with the Vegetarian Society.[16] He was a member of the Fruitarian Society, whose members lived on "the produce of harvest field, garden, forest and orchard, with milk, butter, cheese, eggs and honey".[6] His own "fruitarianism" was close to ovo-lacto vegetarianism. He was not a vegan: he recommended a daily diet of dandelion leaves, eggs, grapes, honey, lettuce, milk, salad, and watercress.
In any case, Oldfield founded several hospitals whose healing methods involved this diet. See the video below for more details. I have no idea of their success rate.
However, he found time to theorize about other things besides diet, such as the art of kissing. I apologize for the illegibility of the snapshot. Here's a sample or two of the text.
Newpaper source: Omaha Sunday Bee-News (Omaha, Nebraska) 30 Aug 1931, Sun Page 41
Posted By: Paul - Mon Aug 01, 2022 -
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Category: Hospitals, Hygiene, Nineteenth Century, Twentieth Century, Love & Romance
Naeviology
Naeviology is divination by bodily moles.
Learn about this science at this book link, along with many other occult practices.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 31, 2022 -
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Category: Body, Fate, Predetermination and Inevitability, Predictions, Supernatural, Occult, Paranormal, Nineteenth Century
The Umbrella Man of Seattle
A great eccentric figure from the past.Good long article here with many illos.
The shorter Wikipedia page.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 17, 2022 -
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Category: Eccentrics, Regionalism, Weather, Nineteenth Century, Twentieth Century
The Ross Unicycle
The birth of the Monowheel? See videos below.The patent is here.
From SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN:
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jun 04, 2022 -
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Category: Bicycles and Other Human-powered Vehicles, Inventions, Nineteenth Century
Vinous Rubber Grapes
Vinous Rubber Grapes, patented in 1885, were rubber grapes filled with various types of alcohol (wine, brandy, whisky, etc.). The idea was that they would allow people to drink discreetly even in places where alcohol wasn't served. Or, as the advertising copy put it, the rubber grapes provided "a ready means for a refreshing stimulant whenever needed, without reservation, even in the most criticising surroundings."Apparently they sold quite well, right up until the passage of the 18th amendent in 1920.
I don't think that anything quite like them can be bought nowadays.
The Topeka Lantern - Feb 19, 1887
The Judge's Library - Apr 1889
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jun 01, 2022 -
Comments (2)
Category: Inebriation and Intoxicants, Patents, Nineteenth Century
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |