3 ms·
> elemental mercury, radium, and phosphorous were also used as medicines even when they did not have redeeming medicinal uses. Well, mercury is a fairly effect
by 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.