Medical 'Cures' That Did More Harm Than Good For hundreds of years, mercury-containing products claimed to heal a varied and strangely unrelated host of ailments. Melancholy, constipation, syphilis, influenza, parasites—you name it, and someone swore that mercury could fix it.
Mercury and its derivatives have been used as anti-parasitic, anti-syphilis, antipruritic, preservative, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, dental amalgam, and substitute for over 3,000 years.
Mercury was undoubtedly ineffective in curing secondary syphilis where there are large numbers of active spirochaetes. In primary infections where there are fewer spirochaetes topical and systemic mercury may have occasionally aborted the infection.
In India and China, it was used as an aphrodisiac and for medical therapy circa 500 BCE. Chinese woman are reported to have consumed mercury as a contraceptive 4,000 years ago. Cinnabar is still used as a sedative in traditional Chinese medicine.
For centuries, mercury was present in the work of alchemists, who searched for the universal essence or quintessence and the so-called philosopher's stone. In the early modern era, between the 16th and 19th centuries, mercury was used to manufacture mirrors.
Prior to the first use of penicillin against syphilis in 1943, mercury had a prominent position in the medical practice despite a tremendous toxicity and a questionable efficiency. In fact, during 450 years mercury remained the guarantee of efficacy.
The Romans used their mercury mines as penal institutions for criminals, slaves, and other undesirables. The warders were among the first to recognize that there was a high likelihood that the prisoners would become poisoned and spare the keepers the need for formal executions.
Blue mass was recommended as a remedy for such widely varied complaints as tuberculosis, constipation, toothache, parasitic infestations, and the pains of childbirth. The Edinburgh New Dispensatory (1789) instructs the making as follows: "Pilula ex Hydrargyro [London] (Quicksilver-pills).
Mercury was known to kill bacteria, hence it was given in pills or ointments to patients.
The treatment of gonorrhea dates back to the 16th century when mercury was injected into the urethra of crewmen suffering from the infection.
Syphilis is a prevalent and easily spread sexually-transmitted disease. It is a bacterial infection with numerous potential health implications, including lesions and ulcers that can cause nose damage. The lesions and ulcers attack the nose cartilage or tissue and weaken the nasal bridge support.
“Two or three of the major STIs [in humans] have come from animals. We know, for example, that gonorrhoea came from cattle to humans. Syphilis also came to humans from cattle or sheep many centuries ago, possibly sexually”.
Syphilis existed in medieval Europe, and it caused the death of England's King Edward IV. That's the surprising argument of Smith College scholar Marylynn Salmon, just published in The Medieval Globe, a history journal.
For centuries, people thought mercury was a safe, easy remedy for everything from melancholy to syphilis.
Archaeologists found mercury in an Egyptian tomb dating from 1500 BC. The Egyptians and the Chinese may have been using cinnabar as a red pigment for centuries before the birth of Christ. In many civilizations mercury was used to placate or chase away evil spirits.
It was used by the ancient Greeks as an ointment, and by the Romans as a cosmetic. By as early as 500 BC mercury was already used to make amalgams with other metals.
Effects of Mercury on the Environment
What is so disheartening is that we still have hospitals using mercury-based equipment. Common culprits are mercury thermometers, UV-C disinfection machines with mercury-loaded lamps, and blood pressure gauges.
Although some forms of mercury are more dangerous than others, all are toxic. Depending on the type and amount, exposures to mercury can damage the nervous system, kidneys, liver and immune system. Breathing mercury vapors can harm the nervous system, lungs and kidneys.
Neurological and behavioural disorders may be observed after inhalation, ingestion or dermal exposure of different mercury compounds. Symptoms include tremors, insomnia, memory loss, neuromuscular effects, headaches and cognitive and motor dysfunction.
In 1928, Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) discovered penicilin and from 1943, it became the main treatment of syphilis [7,29].
The Greek god Hermes (the Roman Mercury ) was the god of translators and interpreters. He was the most clever of the Olympian gods, and served as messenger for all the other gods. He ruled over wealth, good fortune, commerce, fertility, and thievery.
Blood mercury levels above 100 ng/mL have been reported to be associated with clear signs of mercury poisoning in some individuals (e.g., poor muscle coordination, tingling and numbness in fingers and toes).
Mercury is a naturally-occurring chemical element found in rock in the earth's crust, including in deposits of coal.