Zerret Applicator

The Zerret Applicator is a device consisting of two conjoined plastic spheres (frequently compared to a dumbbell) containing a tube of a substance called "Zerret water" that, when held with one hand on each sphere (and legs uncrossed) for a prescribed time period, would allegedly generate "Z-rays" to "expand all the atoms of one's being," purportedly balancing life forces and inducing relaxation to cure the user of a variety of ailments. It was invented and manufactured by William Ferguson, with sales managed by his associate, Mary Stanakis, both of whom were ultimately charged and found guilty of "sending a misbranded article interstate" for their troubles; at trial, a government chemist tasked with investigating the device found the "Zerret water" to be ordinary tap water.

The device was one of several singled out for denouncement as fraudulent in a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) public service announcement video aimed at senior citizens, in which actor Raymond Massey states that "there are no z-rays."

Press Coverage

 * "Z-Rays Expand Atoms To cure disease, said the directions, a patient had only to sit, without crossing his knees, holding the dumbbell, one knob in each hand, for 30 minutes at a time. This $50 'toy' was loaded with 'Zerret Water' which was said to give forth 'Z-rays.' The maker claimed his treatment would 'expand all the atoms of one's being.'"
 * "William R. Ferguson, 49, a former cab driver, and Mrs. Mary Stanakis, 50, were found guilty yesterday of sending a misbranded article thru interstate commerce in connection of Ferguson's so-called healing device known as the Zerret Applicator[...] Ferguson claimed that his gadget had certain healing powers but a government chemist testified the applicator contained nothing but ordinary tape water and that the one he examined also had some added particles of house dust."

Resources

 * FDA PSA video featuring Raymond Massey, c. 1950: https://archive.org/details/fda_quackery_psa