Notoriety to respectability: a short history of arsenic prior to its present day use in haematology.
This paper looks at arsenic, and in particular the trioxide, from the days of the ancient Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, through the 17th-20th centuries to its adoption by today's haematologists. It looks at its commercial and medical uses, past and present, its notoriety as a poison, it's reputation as a 'tonic' and therapeutic agent, many of the famous people associated with it including Thomas Fowler, William Withering and Robert Christison, and the promise an 18th century panacea now offers 21st century patients under the care of today's haematologists and tomorrow's oncologists.
Doyle
Derek
D
derekdoyle@waitrose.com
D001151:Arsenic / Q000266:history*; D006405:Hematology / Q000266:history; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans
D001151:Arsenic