Beauty with risk for life: how ladies of the past ruined his health

Women always knew that beauty requires sacrifice, and were ready to go. In the best case, these victims were tired from walking at an incredible heels legs. But many were resolved and more dangerous adventure that led to health problems, and some even threatened to deprive the yoke of life.

Radioactive makeup

In 1932 in France began to produce a line of women's cosmetics called Tho-Radia. In powder and cream contained radium, which was then credited with miraculous properties.

According to the developers, the makeup Tho-Radia was making skin clean and healthy. Thorium chloride and bromide of radium contained in these funds had to activate processes in the cells, smooth the skin from wrinkles and get rid of small imperfections. Instead, women were mild radiation sickness at the price of 15 francs for 155 grams.

Despite the fact that radium recognized threat, sales of cosmetics Tho-Radia continued until the 1960‑ies.

Foot binding

Foot binding — Chinese tradition with thousands of years of history. Female feet less than ten centimeters in length, was called "legs Lotus" and was considered a sign of femininity. For the formation of these "flower" women had to endure terrible pain throughout life.

When the girl was seven years old, she had broken all the toes (except big) and attracted to the heel as tight as you can so that the foot was arched like a bow. Bandaged leg was in need of constant care by displacement of the vessels worsen blood circulation, and because of ingrowing nails could begin necrosis and abscesses.

Men believed that the "legs Lotus" make a woman extremely sexy, but to see female feet without shoes and bandages were dirty. This is not surprising, considering what they had. Photo to make it not be, this show is not for the faint of heart.

Came to power, the Communists this custom eradicated, with a ban on bandaging. He is still in effect. The last factory producing shoes-Lotus closed in 1999, the remaining stock was transferred to the ethnographic Museum.

Arsenic

In the late nineteenth century in Europe and the United States arsenic was known as a miracle product. It was believed that it gives the eyes a healthy glow, and face — noble pallor.

Make the arsenic had little, gradually increasing the dose. Accumulate in the body, it caused thyroid disease and often fatal outcomes. So much crafty beauticians offered women an alternative to — face masks based on arsenic. They were considered safer than the use of poison inside. But actually there is no difference.

Advertising waffles with arsenic in a new York newspaper.

Corset

In Europe of the XVIII century fashion entered the "wasp" waist and corsets, and it was fashionable not only among women but also among men. For perfect posture accustomed to wearing a corset started from childhood.

Corset maintained the chest tightened waists, forced to keep her back straight, but squeezed the edges are not worse than Vice. The woman couldn once again to move or bend the edges of the corset, made of wood, steel or whalebone, cut into his skin, squeezing mercilessly, and at times, breaking his ribs. Fainting due to lack of oxygen was commonplace.

Below the waist was the circumference 35-40 inches, required the efforts of at least two people, and the beauty had to hold onto something with your hands.

The constant wearing of a corset caused deformation of the ribs and a variety of chronic diseases of the heart and lungs. Women have atrophied Breasts, began back problems.

Drops of belladonna

In Ancient Greece and Rome from belladonna was preparing poisons. In the middle Ages ointment made from this plant was used during the witch trials — it causes strong hallucinations. And in the XVIII-XIX centuries in Europe, the juice of belladonna became instilled in the eye.

The fashion for drop introduced by the Italian aristocrat. A few drops of belladonna expanded pupils, gave his eyes Shine, making them more expressive. In this rapidly worsened vision and long-term use has led to complete blindness. However, the fashion for this "drug" was only in the early XX century.

Tapeworms

In the XX century the fashion for thinness has reached its peak. Many women were ready to do anything for quick and noticeable result, even if it meant to voluntarily settle in your body of the parasite.

Capsules with bovine tapeworm larva had eaten. Once ingested, the parasite began to absorb nutrients. Lady to lose weight, and the worm, on the contrary, ROS, sometimes reaching up to 50 centimeters. When the desired effect has been achieved, the worm was removed with the help of special drugs or by surgery.

In this "diet" was a significant drawback — the probability of death. Beef tapeworm not simply ate together with his vehicle, he is also actively reproduce. So there was no guarantee that getting rid of the adult, the person will get rid of his progeny.