Halley's comet

Curiously, Halley’s Comet was making its 75-yearly appearance in Spring 1910 and was visible to the naked eye in the days just before Edward VII’s funeral. There were observation parties all over Britain the night before the funeral. Despite the strong moonlight that night, the comet’s tail stretched across much of the sky.

Soon afterwards the Earth was due to pass through the comet’s tail, causing "comet fear" among some. Conmen did quite well selling "comet pills" advertised as antidotes to the supposed ill effects of the tail’s poisonous gases.