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I!f DesPite persistent assurances from dental associations around the globe that dental amalgam presents no threat to health, the use of mercury ifildental fillings is now the centre of lively debate. Silver-mercury fillings have been used in the service DO YOU HAVE MERCURY of dental therapy since the early 1800's, but until recently, the worry that the mercury contenn of fillings might be slowly poison AMALGAM FILLINGS IN YO'UR ing their recipients has lacked a sufficient basis in research to make the charge scientifically audible. Much literature has now accumu TEETH? lated, however, to show that the use of mercury in dental therapy may constitute yet another health hazard resulting from our obses sion with chemical technology at nature's expense. DO YOU RECOGNISE THE SYMPTOMS LISTED IN THIS 00 ARTICLE? MERCURY AND ITS USE IN MEDICINE Mercury and its compounds have been associated with medical NEW RESEARCH NOW treatments for over two millennia particularly in the areas of birth control and as a cure for syphilis. In ancient Greece, large quanti QUESTIONS THE SAFETY AND ties of elementallIlercury werc taken orally to cause abortion. EFFECTIVENESS OF MERCURY Later other mercurial compounds were used. Until recently, both organic and inorganic mercury compounds, bein-g spermicides, AMALGAM AS FILLINGS FOR have been used in contraceptive tablets, jellies, and vaginal dOUCh es. Even after the introduction of birth control pills, several mercu DENTAL CAVITIES. rial preparations remained on the market I Following the plagues of syphilis which sprcad through Europe after 1493AD, death from mercury overdose was not uncommon READ THIS IF YOU DARE! and it has been suggested that the behavioural abberations of a number of European kings and nobles since the 16th century may well have reflected the mental deterioration caused by the advanced stages of syphilis and its treatment with mercury.' Despite mercury trcatments, by the 17th century, syphilis was so widespread that prostitutes were occasionally sent out as a military weapon to "lay waste" to the invading armies. P. and F. D'.Jtri com ment that Some authorities have speculated that the ravages of the disease and its treatment with mercurials, both of which destroy brain cells, could have undermined the mental capacity and emotional stability of the entire population of 16-NEXUS JUNE-JULY 1992