Yeah I don't know the medical reasons, just sutuational usage like you describe that proves it works. Makes me wonder if it could counteract Covid..
The article is interesting, esp. about the first incident. Probable accident like you said, but the newspaper chose to pump it out 24/7 as a way to draw suspicion to Cuba and fan the flames of Cuban tension, which later resulted in war.
The guy just wanted to sell more newspapers. William Randolph Hearst.