10 Dangerous Things That Were Considered Normal in the Past

Seeing a kid doing old-man stuff is already remarkable, right? For instance, a 7-year-old boy is capable of playing skateboard at a level close to Tony Hawk. Or perhaps a young lad whose body is as invulnerable as a genuine body builder. All of these are exception enough to blow our minds. But mind you, things in the past were a little bit different.

Our ancestors actually did things that were either strange or out of this world. Imagine that, in the past, you could send kids to any location through mail. Yes, you read that right – it was very possible back then. And this wasn’t the oddest of things.

Without further ado, here are some shocking things that were considered normal back in the days:

#1. Cocaine Treatment

Oh, yes, cocaine treatment was a thing before. People decades ago thought that this substance was helpful. Drugstores were selling it, and you could even buy one without prescription. They believed that cocaine was capable of healing coughs and toothache. Well, we all know how the cocaine saga went down. Hello, Pablo Escobar!

#2. Sending Children Through Mail

Believe it or not, this was actually possible during the 20th century. Americans were quite fond of sending their children through the mail – and it was very lawful. It cost more or less 15 cents, though the price would vary on the kid’s weight.

#3. Outdoor Baby Cages

Baby wire cages were a trend in the 1930s and were pretty much common among British families. Using this device, kids could breathe fresh air while their parents were at work or busy doing household chores. They weren’t even worried with the fact that their babies could drop and die.

#4. Garden Hermit

Rich people in the past weren’t just fond of money and fame. They also believed in different things, among which was their obsession with having a personal hermit. This guy would live in their gardens and act like a, well, hermit. As expected, he wouldn’t undergo any hair cut or bath. For the oligarchs, this was simply a past time and “live decoration.”

#5. Weird Treatment Methods

Disinfection and the alike were a huge mystery to ancient doctors. Remember that during their time, their knowledge about medicine and stuff was scarce. Nevertheless, they had their own methods – the ones that no human being of today could ever think of. For instance, they believed in bloodletting and how it could remedy a person of any disease. Or how about electric shock and lobotomy as treatments. Although these methods were significantly improved during the present time, the way doctors used them in the past was like torture.

#6. Radioactive Toys

Radiation during the 1950s wasn’t something one needs to heavily worry. In fact, “atomic” toys became popular. And yes, manufacturers would utilize real polonium and uranium just to build a simple car toy. Now imagine the kind of risk the kids were into.

#7. Human Zoos

So, you really think zoos were meant for animals? It’s true today, but in the past, their animals were humans. Apparently, though, these humans came from Asia and Africa. The shameful entertainment existed for countless years.

#8. The “Amusement Excursions” to Mental Hospitals

Unlike today, patients in psychiatric hospitals in the past were treated like animals. Staff would rarely feed people, while doctors would experiment various tests. This practice gave birth to infamous asylum entities, though they were later on portrayed in pop culture. Hospitals would even allow people to pay and visit mentally-disabled patients. From there, they can do whatever they want with the patients.

#9. Collection of Body Parts

Being a collector is a fascinating thing to do, but if you’re to collect human body parts, then that’s where things go south. In the past, however, this was revered as a legit hobby. People built their own pathoanatomical rooms at their homes. Soldiers would take home the skull of their enemies and had them displayed on their walls.

#10. Smoking During Pregnancy Was Totally Accepted

Do you know why? Because doctors allowed it. They would even prescribe pregnant women to smoke, as they believed it helped in remedying constipation. And if you’ve just given birth, you’re then advised to light a puff – even if your newborn kid is next to you.