Natural body brace

"Worth more than a farm" says a customer of this ancient-looking device.

Be warned that any medical breakthrough that "Replaces and supports misplaced internal organs", "brings pep" and "reduces enlarged abdomen" -all at at the same time- cannot be good for you.

"Body brace", 1917
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This wonderful substance

For the best part of the 20th century, asbestos was regarded as an almost "mythical" friend of Industrialisation - fireproof and waterproof, asbestos could be spun into cloth, or compressed into tiles, bricks and whatever else you could think of.

As the ad says "this wonderful substance brings safety..." - until the late 20th century - when asbestos was found to cause a very deadly, very painful form of lung cancer. Ouch.

"Asbestos", 1917

Stretch out

How about gaining a few extra inches in height?

This medieval-looking gadget promises to "remake and rejuvenate" your body, improve your circulation, and give you a "normal spine".

And it's the "most important health invention of the century". Unbelievable!

"Your spine", 1917
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