Outdated hygiene practices that are anything but clean

Mercury Was Used to Treat Syphilis

Before antibiotics, syphilis treatments were more dangerous than the disease itself. One of the most common methods involved rubbing mercury ointment on the skin several times a day. Doctors believed it helped cure the infection, despite the terrible side effects.

Patients suffered from ulcers, tooth loss, and even kidney failure. Some died from mercury poisoning before syphilis could do its thing. This “cure” was worse than the curse.