Silver has been used for centuries for its natural sterilising properties.
2000 B.C. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Phoenicians used silver extensively to control infections and spoilage, while the Persian army stored their drinking water in silver vessels.
400 B.C., Hippocrates, "the father of modern medicine", taught how silver would heal wounds and control disease.
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"silver...has healing properties as an ingredient in plasters, being extremely
effective in causing wounds to close up..." Pliny the Elder, 78 A.D. |
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1500s... Surgeons use silver sutures to reduce infection and accelerate healing.
1800s... The armies of Tsar Alexander used water casks lined with silver to clean drinking water from rivers and streams.
1880s... Silver nitrate solution first used to prevent blindness in newborns.
1960s... NASA develop a water purification system using silver, which is still used on the Shuttle.
1970s... Silver sulfadiazine introduced as burns treatment.
1980s... Silver antimicrobials first used in polymers and coatings.
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