In 1910 people bought 'comet pills'. Astronomers had found poisonous cyanogen in Halley's Comet's tail, which Earth was due to pass through, and hucksters sold pills and gas masks.

1910

The gas was far too thin to do any harm.

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The event

• Earth passes through Halley's Comet's tail1910 · Paris. In May 1910 Earth passed through the tail of Halley's Comet. Press reports of astronomer Camille Flammarion's remarks about poisonous cyanogen in the tail caused panic, and hucksters sold 'comet pills' and gas masks. Nothing happened.

20th century

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