The July 7, 1952 issue of Life magazine ran a piece on a uranium mine in Montana which had converted itself into a wellness center. Word spread that sitting in the mine breathing radon gas cured arthritis and other crippling conditions. People started showing up offering money to be allowed to sit in the mine. The owners knew a good thing. They closed down mining operations, installed a waiting room and elevator, and re-opened as a health operation, accepting money on a “donation basis.”
Among the photos is one captioned, “Watched by daughter, a St. Paul woman lies by bags of uranium ore, used to increase radon gas in mine.” At the time of writing some 5000 people had been swindled–I mean, served–by the mine. Though “medical officials” said the mine proved “Barnum was right,” most customers swore by, rather than at, the radon treatment. Two interesting sidelights:
One, the mine was named the Free Enterprise. No lie.
Two, the Free Enterprise is still in business as a “Radon Health Mine.” (I choose not to link to their website.) In best post-Truth tradition, a panel at the bottom says “DO YOUR RESEARCH! Learn about the science of Radon Therapy.”
