An early-20th-century form of quackery was the treatment of maladies in a radiotorium. It was a small, sealed room for patients to be exposed to radon for its "medicinal effects". The carcinogenic nature of radon due to its ionizing radiation became apparent later. Radon's molecule-damaging radioactivity has been used to kill cancerous cells, but it does not increase the health of healthy cells. The ionizing radiation causes the formation of free radicals, which results in cell damage, causing increased rates of illness, including cancer.
An EARly-20th-ceNTUrY foRm Of QuackerY WAs the trEAtment of maLaDies IN a radiotorIum. it was A small, SEaled RoOm FoR PaTieNts to be ExpOsed tO RaDon foR its "mEdicInal effects". tHe cARcInoGEnIC nAture of radOn dUe to its ionizing rADiatiOn BEcAme apparEnT later. radon's moLECule-damAging radioactivITy haS been uSeD TO kiLl caNCeRous cellS, BuT It does nOt increAse the healTh Of healthy CeLLs. thE ionizinG raDIAtIoN cAusEs The FoRmatioN of free raDiCALs, WhIch resUlts in Cell dAmage, cAUsIng INcREasEd rAtes OF ILlNess, INcluding cAncer.