![]() This particular medicine was created by dissolving radium in water. Moyer, who prescribed him a medication called Radithor. To treat his injury, Byers sought medical advice from Dr. This chilling account depicts the true story of Eben Byers, whose demise served as a catalyst for a groundbreaking revolution in the field of medicine.Ī bottle of Radithor at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in New Mexico, United States Tragically, his exposure to this perilous radioactive substance led to the complete detachment of the lower portion of his face, eventually leading to his untimely demise due to cancer. Regrettably, Byers received a recommendation from his physician to undergo this treatment following an arm injury he sustained in 1927.īyers gained notoriety when he developed a condition known as “ Radithor jaw,” which was a consequence of ingesting radium. At that time, one of the widely embraced therapeutic approaches was the utilization of radium, a newly discovered element. And that’s what he is famous for.ĭuring Eben Byers’ era, the field of medicine was considerably less advanced compared to the present day (ostensibly so, as we would soon realize). But unfortunately, that’s not the case.ĭespite triumphing as a prominent golfer, Eben Byers experienced a distressing situation where his jaw became detached instead of basking in opulence. As a golfer, we might have even known him as an exceptional golfer today. Born into affluence as the son of a wealthy industrialist, he received an education from the most esteemed institutions in the United States, with his prosperous future seemingly guaranteed. Even if that was known, the precise term of a pregnancy wasn’t understood and thought to be variable, so it was impossible to know the due date.Eben Byers had the potential to lead a life characterized by privilege and admiration. This lengthy time of retirement was a means of demonstrating the families’ wealth and status as it meant the women no longer carried out any domestic duties, but it was also a precautionary measure because it was difficult to determine the exact date of conception. Royal and noble women ‘took to their chambers’ as early as four to six weeks before the baby was due for a period of rest and quiet, to build up their strength for the coming ordeal and to prepare their souls in case the worse should happen. This time in a woman’s life was called a ‘confinement’ for good reason as she kept to her chamber, away from society a virtual prisoner of her condition. Today, childbirth is seen as a case of medical intervention but in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, male physicians and surgeons avoided the female-only occasion that centred on supporting the mother-to-be through her labour, as well as the days before and after the birth. It is certain that Elizabeth was not alone in feeling so pessimistic perhaps she was even continuing a Tudor tradition. ![]() Some felt trepidation and fear for we know that, during the reign of King James I, Elizabeth Joceline not only stitched the swaddling bands for the coming baby but sewed a shroud for herself as well – sadly, this was required nine days after the birth of a daughter in October 1622. But what were the likely experiences of a mother-to-be in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries?Īs the time of her delivery approached, the pregnant woman of the Medieval and Tudor eras had much to do to prepare for the big event. In my new Sebastian Foxley murder-mystery novel The Colour of Shadows, set in medieval London, Seb’s wife, Emily, is approaching the time of her second confinement.
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