There's not much to add to this other than...ouch!
1949 was not a good year for the treatment of prostatitis, was it?
Hat tip to Modern Mechanix.
Respectful Insolence
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I'd pass on this one if I ever got prostatitis
Category: Medicine • Quackery
Posted on: June 10, 2007 4:31 PM, by Orac
Comments
It's the idea of the 30-day trial that worries me, what did they do with the ones that were returned? :-?
Posted by: Jane | June 10, 2007 5:00 PM
Not to be vulgar, but you realise this was probably just a clever way of selling sex toys without running afoul of decency laws...
Posted by: Adam Cuerden | June 10, 2007 5:10 PM
The product's name really needs an extra "d" in it.
Posted by: ebohlman | June 10, 2007 6:06 PM
Think that's bad? I watched the History of Sex (on what channel? History Channel of course) and Americans came up with the most ridiculous cover-stories for obviously sexual products and it was often the portal of lots of bad pseudo-science. One example was a "prostate warmer," which was basically one of the first dry-cell batteries invented, hooked up to a butt-plug like the bit on the product you're showing us and a lightbulb on the other side.
It didn't do anything, other than make you feel stupid.
Posted by: Aerik | June 10, 2007 6:48 PM
Does it stimulate a man's abdominal brain like the one Aerik mentioned?
Posted by: Bronze Dog | June 10, 2007 7:18 PM
This is roughly akin to the female sex toys marketed as "massagers".
Posted by: anonimouse | June 10, 2007 8:55 PM
Prostatic massage was a treatment for chronic prostatitis in the '40x. I knew a fellow who was a submarine corpsman in WWII who had to give the Captain daily prostate massages while on patrol. He (the Captain) was to be relieved (of command) for medical reasons but he was such a good performer that it kept getting delayed for one more mission. The sub had an impressive score in the Pacific, but hit a mine and is still on patrol. I suppose this device is for guys with short arms or no friends.
I don't think this is a salacious as is looks 60 years later.
Posted by: William the Coroner | June 11, 2007 9:32 AM
Yeah, first thing I thought upon seeing this was, "hey, probably a lot of people without any health issues were thrilled to get one of these!"
Not to say it wasn't a legitimate health treatment at the time, but there are... dual uses!
Posted by: akibare | June 11, 2007 12:05 PM
So this Dila-Therm .. it vibrates?
Posted by: Mary | June 12, 2007 4:01 PM