The world is ever-changing. New technologies, government policies, laws, amendments, are coming every day.
But have you ever wondered, how much the world has changed in the past 100 years?
In this blog, we shall be looking at 6 things that were pretty common in past, but are nowhere to be seen today. And we are thankful for it.
With this being said, let’s get into it:
1. Heroin was over-the-counter medicine
In 1898, Heroin was introduced to the public. It was marketed as a drug (medicine) that had many health benefits. It was usually taken as a cure for cold, as well as in form of cough syrup.
However, Heroin wasn’t the only over-the-counter med. You could also buy Morphine, opium, and cocaine from almost any pharmacy across the United States. Since they were over-the-counter medicines, you didn’t even need a prescription. This time was a wish-come-true for drug addicts.
Coming to the present, heroin, along with other opioids is considered to be a highly addictive, and dangerous drug (not medicine). Needless to say, it is illegal to sell and consume.
2. Infection? Nothing few Leeches can’t fix
It’s the year 1921, you don’t feel so good, and go to the doctor. He diagnoses you with an infection. Don’t worry, you won’t die, because he also has a treatment plan for you. therefore, he suggests (quite strongly), bloodletting.
This might sound like your average doctor appointment, but wait till you know what bloodletting is. The doctor would leave Leeches on your skin to suck your blood. Yeah, you read that tight.
We are talking about a time decade before Penicillin was invented.
However, this isn’t the only medical horror people had to experience during those times. A toxic substance, like mercury, was used as a treatment for syphilis. And we thought eating mummies was bizarre.
3. The movies were black and white, plus entirely silent
Everyone knows that movies used to be black and white, but what most people don’t know is they were completely silent.
But this didn’t make them any less popular. In fact, around that time movies were state-of-the-art.
And this is quite understandable considering that the first movie was shot in the late 1800s. However, they were a common thing until 1918.
4. Gas was sold in Cans at Pharmacies
When you run out of gas(fuel) or are about to run out of gas, you think of gas stations. This is obvious, it is not like gas is sold in cans.
What if we tell you, it was?
A 100 years ago gas stations were not so common. Because cars were also as rare as horse carts are today, one can understand the situation.
But the surprising part is that gas was sold in cans. And if you wanted some you had to go to a local blacksmith shop or a pharmacy.
Today, these are the last two places, anyone would look for gas at. Needless to say, you also had to fill your tank.
5. There was no national anthem yet
National Anthem is a pride of the nation, something that connects everything regardless of their status. Each and every (pretty much) American knows “The Star-Spangled Banner” by heart.
But to our surprise, the USA didn’t have an official national as recently as 100 years ago.
Even though “The Star-Spangled Banner” is still around and also used for official ceremonies, so were several others, like “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” and “America the Beautiful.
It was in the year, 1931 when the USA officially declared the “The Star-Spangled Banner” as their official national anthem.
6. No federal laws on child labor
Child labor is unthinkable in today’s world. Yet there was no Federal law against it, a hundred years ago.
The first federal child labor law was passed in the year 1916. but only two years later, it was termed unconstitutional and ruled out.
So, the sight of children working in mines, factories, and other unskilled jobs was fairly common. In the census of 1900, it was seen that there were around two million kids aged between 10 and 15 working full-time jobs.
It wasn’t until 1938 that the Fair Labor Standards Act was passed putting an end to this practice.
