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As further examples, elemental mercury, radium, and phosphorous were also used as medicines even when they did not have redeeming medicinal uses. Eg, Lincoln t
by dalke 11y ago
As further examples, elemental mercury, radium, and phosphorous were also used as medicines even when they did not have redeeming medicinal uses.
Eg, Lincoln took mercury pills ( http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/07/0717_lincoln.html http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/07/0717_lincoln... ) , radium cures were the thing in the 1920s ( http://www.museumofquackery.com/devices/radium.htm http://www.museumofquackery.com/devices/radium.htm ), and in https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8701117 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8701117 I mention an account 1931 account of a man who had been "prescribed tonic pills that contained both elemental phosphorous and strychnine". After taking them for 27 years later, he had an advanced case of phossy jaw from the phosphorous.
- Thrymr 11y ago> elemental mercury, radium, and phosphorous were also used as medicines even when they did not have redeeming medicinal uses. Well, mercury is a fairly effective antibacterial agent, it's just that we don't use it much anymore because it's also very toxic to humans. I think it still does have some (limited) medical applications.
- dalke 11y agoYes, mercury compounds are used as medicines. For examples, thiomersal is an antiseptic and antifungal agent, and merbromin is an antiseptic. This is why I wrote 'elemental mercury'. I am not aware of an effective medicinal use of elemental mercury, and Lincoln's pills contained that form of mercury.