# Was mercury actually effective as a cure for syphilis? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 4, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194 "2010-08-04T21:42:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/1 "2010-08-04T21:42:03Z")
As I understand it, back in the day patients with syphilis would be treated with mercury. This treatment, unsurprisingly, would often leave them quite mad. I’ve always wondered why folks bothered, since untreated syphilis would _also_ leave them mad. So - did the mercury treatment actually lead to a better prognosis than no treatment at all for syphilis? And if so, how did it work? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/2 "2010-08-04T22:23:26Z")
I think it was arsenic. But my cite is “Out of Africa”. Meryl Streep goes back to Denmark for treatment. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/3 "2010-08-04T22:28:03Z")
Mercury was the first treatment and did seem to be somewhat effective on lesions. The arsenic treatment was Salversan, which did contain arsenic. It was better than mercury, but penicillin was the first fully effective treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/4 "2010-08-05T21:46:47Z")
Thanks, folks. However, since I’d like a bit more detail regarding the progression of the disease, as well as the effects of mercury treatment, I’m giving this thread a single bump. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/5 "2010-08-05T22:20:06Z")
try checking out the [Tuskeegee Syphilis Experiment.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_syphilis_experiment) > [@](#): > > By the end of the study in 1972, only 74 of the test subjects were alive. Twenty-eight of the original 399 men had died of syphilis, 100 were dead of related complications, 40 of their wives had been infected, and 19 of their children were born with congenital syphilis. Untreated, it is pretty grim. Look at the ancilliary damage caused to the wives and families. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/6 "2010-08-05T22:42:51Z")
Mercury was somewhat effective if applied to the initial sores. Once those went away, you were screwed. Later treatments had a greater window of treatment, but it was penicillin that was first able to cure the disease at all stages. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/7 "2010-08-05T23:22:57Z")
There was an old saying back in the day: **One night with Venus, a lifetime with Mercury** ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/8 "2010-08-06T01:23:34Z")
Back then, they thought mercury had all sorts of magical powers, because it was a liquid metal. They used it to cure pretty much anything. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/9 "2010-08-07T13:19:38Z")
Help me remember something. They treated syphilis with mercury(II) chloride, aka HgCl2 or “corrosive sublimate”. What I’m trying to remember is, wasn’t this the compound that a fairly high profile chemist got onto her hand when the gloves she was wearing leaked? She died soon after. Did they use elemental mercury metal to treat syphilis? ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/10 "2010-08-07T13:22:58Z")
Wait, it wasn’t mercury(II) chloride… “Karen Wetterhahn (October 16, 1948 – June 8, 1997) was a well-known professor of chemistry at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, who specialized in toxic metal exposure. She made national headlines when mercury poisoning claimed her life at the age of 48 due to accidental exposure to the organic mercury compound dimethylmercury ([Hg(CH3)2]). She was the Albert Bradley Third Century Professor in the Sciences at Dartmouth College.” [Wikipedia] ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/11 "2010-08-08T15:06:31Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Mercury was the first treatment and did seem to be somewhat effective on lesions. > > The arsenic treatment was Salversan, which did contain arsenic. It was better than mercury, but penicillin was the first fully effective treatment. [Salv **a** rsan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsphenamine) or Arsphenamine or 606. [Neosalvarsan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neosalvarsan) was used as well, and was slightly less toxic. I haven’t found any indication that mercury or mercury compounds actually did anything useful. ---
**Author:** ![lhumongus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eada6e/32.png) [@lhumongus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lhumongus)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/12 "2013-02-16T17:45:44Z")
Giacomo Casanova discusses his treatment with mercury to cure syphilis in his memoirs. Symptoms appeared within three days and he immediately sought treatment. He stayed in his room for six weeks while being treated. He did experience mental issues while under treatment. Since he was only about 25 and went on to live to about 73, I suppose the treatment cured him. I am only on Vol. 3 of 12 and he has already had gonorrhea three or four times, he may mention getting syphilis again. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/13 "2013-02-16T18:30:57Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > Help me remember something. They treated syphilis with mercury(II) chloride, aka HgCl2 or “corrosive sublimate”. What I’m trying to remember is, wasn’t this the compound that a fairly high profile chemist got onto her hand when the gloves she was wearing leaked? She died soon after. > > Did they use elemental mercury metal to treat syphilis? You’re thinkin of [Karen Wetterhahn](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Wetterhahn) and Dimethyl mercury. ETA - oops; beaten to the punch by Napier ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/14 "2013-02-16T19:56:08Z")
> [@](#): > > ETA - oops; beaten to the punch In 2010 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/15 "2013-02-16T20:56:01Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > In 2010 🙂 **Vehement Maledictions!!!** I didn’t notice the date, and thus assumed it was a new thread. I really wish TPTB would tag zombie threads so they are more obvious! In my own defence, I’m pretty sure this is the first (and hopefully) only time I’ve pulled that stunt. ---
**Author:** ![Bones\_Daley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@Bones\_Daley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bones_Daley)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/16 "2013-02-16T21:48:38Z")
FWIW, I distinctly remember playing with mercury back in the 1950’s as a child in primary (grade) school). I remember how fascinating it was to see the little globules roll around the palm of my hand … Fortunately, I didn’t extend my experimentation as far as to actually swallow any of the magical stuff … ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/17 "2013-02-16T22:09:10Z")
> [@Bones\_Daley](#): > > FWIW, I distinctly remember playing with mercury back in the 1950’s as a child in primary (grade) school). > > I remember how fascinating it was to see the little globules roll around the palm of my hand … > > Fortunately, I didn’t extend my experimentation as far as to actually swallow any of the magical stuff … I played with it in high school. Actually I swiped a bottle of mercury and had a lot of fun playing with it at home (several decades ago, so I am not concerned about admitting something illegal). Fun stuff to play with! \ ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/18 "2013-02-16T22:30:12Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I think it was arsenic. But my cite is “Out of Africa”. Meryl Streep goes back to Denmark for treatment. Hah, I read that and thought: I wished I had posted that before I noted the username. Yeah me! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/19 "2013-02-17T01:27:52Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > **Vehement Maledictions!!!** I didn’t notice the date, and thus assumed it was a new thread. I really wish TPTB would tag zombie threads so they are more obvious! In my own defence, I’m pretty sure this is the first (and hopefully) only time I’ve pulled that stunt. I’m perfectly happy for there to still be interest in the thread. I thought I’d killed it the last time around. Maybe someone will wander by who knows more about the drugs I mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194/20 "2013-02-17T04:42:28Z")
> [@Bones\_Daley](#): > > Fortunately, I didn’t extend my experimentation as far as to actually swallow any of the magical stuff … Read somewhere once that the sliver-gray stuff isn’t poisonous or toxic. (Is there a difference between those two words?) It isn’t soluble in anything and you just poop it out. It’s the red stuff that that you don’t want to ingest. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-mercury-actually-effective-as-a-cure-for-syphilis/549194.md?page=2)