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Updated: Oct 14, 2025
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Finite Element Modelling of a Cellular Electric Microenvironment
Published on: May 18, 2021
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Electricity.
Emily Kakos1, Mike Jaafar1, Vaughn C Ayroso1
1Dental Students - NYU College of Dentistry.
Journal of the History of Dentistry
|November 4, 2021
Summary
Historical quack medicines, particularly "electric" elixirs from 1850-1940, often made unsubstantiated claims. Modern internet advertising echoes these past deceptions, highlighting the need for consumer protection against medical fraud.
Area of Science:
- Medical History
- History of Pharmacy
- Consumer Protection
Background:
- Quackery in medicine has a long history, with desperate patients often believing extraordinary claims, especially during crises.
- Elixirs, nostrums, and liniments were prominent forms of pain-killer quack medicine.
- A collection of 234 quack medicine bottles (c. 1850-1940) was acquired by NYU College of Dentistry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine historical quack medicines, specifically focusing on five "electric" elixirs.
- To analyze the deceptive marketing practices of past medical quackery.
- To draw parallels between historical quackery and modern unsubstantiated health claims.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of five "electric" elixirs: Electric Brand Oil Compound, Hunt's Lightening Oil, Electric Indian Liniment, Regent's Electric Liniment, and Haven's Electro-magnetic Liniment.
- Historical review of medical quackery and its marketing tactics.
- Comparison of historical advertising with contemporary internet advertisements.
Main Results:
- The analyzed "electric" elixirs did not contain electricity or electrolytes.
- These products relied on exaggerated and unsubstantiated claims for marketing.
- The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 aimed to curb such deceptive practices.
Conclusions:
- Historical quack medicines utilized deceptive marketing, such as false claims of "electric" properties.
- Despite regulatory efforts like the Pure Food and Drug Act, unsubstantiated claims persist.
- Modern internet advertising exhibits similar or even more brazen deceptive practices than historical advertisements.
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