bacterial infections before antibiotics...

[pinkypig]

Does anybody know how people used to treat bacterial infections back in the days when antibiotics were not invented? Or if you guys know any good sites with this info please let me know asap!

Thanks!

[MrMistery]

Treat the symptoms and allow the immune system to kill the pathogen?

[mith]

Pretty much limited to preventive measures like boiling water etc

http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/mil ... apter3.htm

read the WWI section.

[pinkypig]

Thanks for that but does anybody have any other knowledge for this?

[biohazard]

Well, here's one example that came to my mind:

Syphillis was treated with mercury for centuries before the antibiotics, and it even had some limited success (although the toxic effects of mercury itself sometimes were worse than it's curing effect).

[pinkypig]

Thanks fo that mr biohazard! anymore suggestions ppl?

[mith]

they also used arsenic

[MrMistery]

it'd rather die of neurosyphillis than of mercury poisoning...

[pinkypig]

Thanks for all the ideas now can you post me somthing to my other two posts aswel plz!lol

[Ammycin]

Great discuss. In ancient days, people are used some kind of medicinal leaves to treat bacterial infections.