many years. Its clinical characteristics have been well recognized, and the relation established, which the disease bears to similar conditions in Ceylon, Burmah,the Dutch Colonies, etc., yet its etiology still remains obscure. The term Beri-Beri has been used in many instances to denote two conditions, in one of which the disease consists in peripheral neuritis affecting generally the lower li...

The organic mercurials have been known to have a diuretic effect since the sixteenth century, but their use for treating dropsy first began in 1920 in Vienna, when it was realised that a mercury compound being used to treat syphilis greatly increased urine output. The direct descendant of that compound was mersalyl, which was to remain the drug of choice until 1951, when the carbonic anhydrase ...

This fascinating review describes the history of vinegar to be "as colorful as it is practical," stating that, "Hippocrates (c. 420 BC) used vinegar medicinally to manage wounds and Cleopatra (c. 50 BC) dissolved precious pearls in vinegar and offered her love potion to Anthony. Sung Tse, the 10th century creator of forensic medicine, advocated hand washing with sulfur and vinegar to avoid infe...