In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, American households relied on a device that was as strange as it was popular: “Dr. Young’s rectal dilators”.
The product was sold as a solution for all kinds of health problems such as constipation, headaches, insomnia, nervousness, and even acne, a list of indications that today seems absurd but at the time convinced thousands of people.
The devices came in different sizes for home use, accompanied by manuals that promoted their frequent use. Aggressive advertising campaigns managed to keep the product on the market for decades, even though since the late 1800s several doctors were already doubting its supposed benefits.
It was not until 1940 that health authorities officially intervened, pointing out that the product could be dangerous and that its benefits were unproven.