Throughout history, people have held some truly wild and bizarre beliefs. These misconceptions were often rooted in incomplete knowledge, superstition, or just plain imagination. Let’s dive into some of the most outrageous ideas people have had over the centuries.
The ‘Poison Apple’ Tomato Myth
Until the 18th century, tomatoes were considered poisonous by many Europeans. Dubbed the “poison apple,” tomatoes were believed to cause death and sickness. The confusion arose because wealthy Europeans used pewter plates that contained high levels of lead. When acidic tomatoes came into contact with the lead in the plates, it would leach out and cause lead poisoning. However, no one understood the connection, and the poor tomato became scapegoated for what was a simple chemical reaction.
By the late 19th century, people began to recognize the nutritional benefits of tomatoes, which led to their widespread use in cuisines worldwide. The tomato myth is a prime example of how misinformation can lead to the rejection of a beneficial food source.
The ‘Washing and Cleanliness Myth’ and Its Role in Disease Control
In ancient civilizations, it was believed that bathing could actually spread disease rather than prevent it. This was especially evident during the great plagues. People often saw bathing as a sinful or unhealthy act, thinking that the body’s natural oils were protective. This led to the spread of germs and bacteria, and ultimately, death, as hygiene practices were ignored.
In contrast, many of the most celebrated health reforms, such as those introduced by Florence Nightingale, focused heavily on cleanliness and hygiene. The importance of washing hands, disinfecting, and having proper sanitation became clear, but not before centuries of health epidemics and unnecessary suffering.
Fear of the Speed of Trains in Victorian England
When trains were first introduced to England in the 19th century, their speed caused widespread panic. The fear wasn’t just about accidents or crashes; it was believed that traveling at high speeds could cause a variety of health issues, including insanity, disintegration of body parts, and even spontaneous combustion. The idea of humans traveling at speeds of over 20 miles per hour was so foreign and unsettling that many believed it was unnatural and dangerous.
Anti-train activists claimed that riding a train could cause “delirium furiosum” or trigger brain injuries. While no concrete evidence of these side effects was found, fear surrounding the new technology was widespread, much like the moral panic seen with later technologies, such as the internet and smartphones.
The Miasma Theory
In the Middle Ages, the world was plagued by outbreaks such as the Black Death, cholera, and even the common cold, and medical understanding was rudimentary at best. People believed that these diseases were caused by “bad air”, a concept known as the miasma theory. It was believed that toxic vapors emanated from decaying matter, causing illness.
Doctors even wore masks with long beaks, stuffed with aromatic herbs, to protect themselves from the foul-smelling air. Despite the lack of evidence, the belief persisted for centuries. Although now debunked, the miasma theory led to important changes in public health and sanitation during the 19th century, especially through figures like Florence Nightingale.
The Mongol’s Stance on Hygiene
The Mongols, led by Genghis Khan, created the largest contiguous empire in history. Despite their incredible military successes, their approach to personal hygiene was bizarre and dangerous. They believed that washing, whether by bathing or washing clothes, would anger dragons that controlled the water cycle. As a result, they avoided baths and only washed their clothes on special occasions. The idea of contaminating water by cleaning was so ingrained that the Mongols would wear the same clothes until they fell apart.
The lack of hygiene among the Mongol warriors earned them a reputation for being foul-smelling. Their diet, consisting of fermented mare’s milk, rat meat, and even drinking horse blood, likely added to their offensive odor. This belief highlights how cultural myths about purity and the natural world influenced health and personal practices.
The Fear of Tomatoes and the “Toxic Fruit” Myth
For over 200 years, the humble tomato was labeled as a toxic and dangerous food. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Europeans believed the tomato could cause sickness and death. This belief was rooted in the misconception that tomatoes were poisonous, a notion that persisted even as the fruit began to spread through European colonies. The “poison apple” nickname persisted until the 19th century, when it was discovered that tomatoes were not only safe but also beneficial to health.
Ironically, the real cause of death associated with tomatoes was lead in the pewter plates aristocrats used, not the tomatoes themselves. When these plates came into contact with the acid in tomatoes, they leached lead, leading to poisoning. This mistaken belief kept tomatoes off European dinner tables for centuries.
High-Speed Travel Can Cause “Insanity” or “Spontaneous Combustion”
In the 19th century, as trains became a popular mode of transportation, many people in England feared the effects of high-speed travel. It was believed that traveling at high speeds could cause various physical ailments, including spontaneous combustion, insanity, and the disintegration of body parts.
The train was viewed as so dangerous that people believed it could even cause women to lose their uterus. Experts, who now sound absurd, claimed that merely observing a fast-moving train could induce a state of delirium. The fear and uncertainty surrounding new technology in this era were widespread, shared by many unsure of the rapid changes taking place in society.
The Chinese Belief About the ‘Earthquake Monsters’
In ancient China, there was a belief in ‘earthquake monsters’, mystical creatures thought to cause earthquakes. People believed that these monsters lived beneath the Earth’s surface, and their movements caused the violent tremors. In a way, this was an early version of natural-disaster mythology, rooted in a lack of scientific understanding of tectonic plate movements and seismic activity.
As the years passed and seismic science advanced, this belief was debunked, but for centuries, it was considered a serious and widely accepted explanation for earthquakes.
The Rise of BASIC in the 1980s: A Computer Revolution Belief
During the 1980s, the idea that everyone should know how to program computers was widely accepted. This was fueled by the introduction of the BASIC programming language, designed to be simple and easy to learn. It was believed that understanding a computer’s internal workings was essential to keep up with the “computer revolution.”
Although most people today only need to know how to operate a computer rather than program it, the belief that computer programming was necessary persisted well into the early 1990s. Thanks to BASIC, however, computers became more accessible, easier to use, and faster for everyday tasks. This early belief in computer literacy paved the way for the tech boom and the worldwide rise of digital literacy.
The Great Fear of Tomatoes in the 18th Century
In 18th-century Europe, the tomato was feared and shunned as a dangerous fruit, even though it was common in many other cultures’ diets. For centuries, the European elite thought the tomato could cause poisoning and death. This misbelief was largely due to the acidity of tomatoes reacting with the lead in pewter plates, leading to lead poisoning. The “poison apple” myth held firm until the late 1800s, when tomatoes gained widespread acceptance in Europe.
The truth behind the toxic tomato myth highlights how food fears can stem from chemical reactions that have little to do with the actual ingredients. It wasn’t until pizza began to spread that tomatoes were recognized for their true value.
Conclusion
These outrageous historical beliefs serve as a reminder of how human understanding of the world evolves. What once seemed like undeniable truths are now regarded as absurd or laughable. While some beliefs, like those surrounding cleanliness, had a positive impact in the long run, many others caused unnecessary harm, fear, or delays in progress.
It’s essential to approach new information with a critical mindset and challenge outdated notions, as history has shown us the power of evidence-based thinking.
