Panacea: Liquid grace or toxic snake oil?
 

Panacea: Liquid grace or toxic snake oil?

http://www.spectroscopynow.com/commo...3dcece3e8c.jpgProton NMR spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy have been used to analyse snake oil, elixirs, panaceas and other quackery found in medicines prescribed from the 18th century onwards. It turns out that many of these often-patented nostrums contained highly dangerous levels of toxic elements including arsenic, mercury and lead, as well as cocaine, heroin and high levels of alcohol.

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