Posted by yxibow on June 12, 2008, at 6:07:22
In reply to Re: 'Growing Up Bipolar' in Newsweek, posted by linkadge on June 11, 2008, at 8:51:05
> Can't they create a non murcury based vaccine?
>
> WFT?
>
> LinkadgeI guess I didn't answer the question completely.
Mercury has been routinely used as a topical antiseptic since I can't remember.
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040723.html
I routinely remember as a child Mercurochrome in the medicine cabinet. Iodine was there too.
It was withdrawn in the late 80s, because it was ruled to be ineffective and outdated, just as I remember other tinctures of this and that disappearing from shelves as ancient.
So that's probably one source of the history of it -- also there was an early case of staph infection in a diptheria vaccine that did not contain thiomersal, and killed half of over 20 children that got the vaccine.
Today, actually still the best antiseptic is povidone-iodine (Betadine). It is used in hospitals. Just don't drop it on your shirt, it will produce a nearly unremovable stain.There are others, for lesser injuries, the usual Neosporin, and ones with combinations without neomycin which can cause sensitivities, etc..
As said before, there are also the autism issues I can't address -- it is possible that some children who possess genes that are prone already to some abnormality which can be sensitive to mercury may be more susceptible to a disorder that could already develop anyway.And there's the even more controversial chelation therapy issue about mercury, which while some compounds may not be lethal, there have been deaths from use of some chelating agents.
Chelating agents have their place -- EDTA can remove real amounts of heavy metal poisoning from people who have been exposed in mines and the like or lead paint in children, which are medically accepted uses, but like any injected substance, there are consequences.
EDTA is used in cleaning agents, as a preservative in small amounts, laboratory science, etc.
poster:yxibow
thread:833251
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080606/msgs/834280.html