Those movies always finding the answer in ancient manuscripts...

[makattak]

Things like Stargate, thinking that the answers to today's problems can be found in ancient manuscripts. Total bullocks!

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn27263-anglo-saxon-remedy-kills-hospital-superbug-mrsa.html#.VRr1YPnF8ep

[roo_ster]

That is pretty darned cool.

[vaskidmark]

Why would they need/want to sterilize the cooper vessel, seeing as how the Anglo-Saxons didn't?

(Of course, I'm thinking that there may have been "something" in/on the vessel that was the real agent.)

stay safe.

[lupinus]

Why would they need/want to sterilize the cooper vessel, seeing as how the Anglo-Saxons didn't?

(Of course, I'm thinking that there may have been "something" in/on the vessel that was the real agent.)

stay safe.

Same reason the Romans didn't see the need to sterilize their tools before sawing the top of your head off or poking needles into your eyes.

Just because they got it doesn't mean they had all the finer points...

[vaskidmark]

Just because they got it doesn't mean they had all the finer points...

Perfection - the deadly enemy of good enough.

And given the state of the "art" of medicine, good enough is more than acceptable in most cases.

stay safe.

[Perd Hapley]

Finding the answer in ancient manuscripts - hmmmm. I hear some folks do that every Sunday morning.

[K Frame]

"Of course, I'm thinking that there may have been "something" in/on the vessel that was the real agent."

Leeks and garlic, even today's varieties, contain sulphur compounds that are known to have strong antibacterial properties. Copper also has anti-microbial properties... I've heard of copper sulphate preparations being used to treat minor skin infections.

Why they become so much more potent when left to stew? That's interesting.

[makattak]

"Of course, I'm thinking that there may have been "something" in/on the vessel that was the real agent."

Leeks and garlic, even today's varieties, contain sulphur compounds that are known to have strong antibacterial properties. Copper also has anti-microbial properties... I've heard of copper sulphate preparations being used to treat minor skin infections.

Why they become so much more potent when left to stew? That's interesting.

It was particularly interesting how it was self-sterilizing. The stew began with bacteria in it and after the 9 day...

Ok, I was just finding out whether it was simply waiting or fermentation going on, so I clicked the link.

Well done, Mods. Well done.  

[K Frame]

Well, it's a well-known fact that he kills everything around him...

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

What is bullocks gall, and are we sure taking it is better than being sick?

[K Frame]

It's a digestive enzyme, bile, essentially, from the gallbladder of a bullock.

It's sold in health food stores today as a supplement.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

People pay money for that stuff?  And then eat it?

[Marnoot]

People who have had their gallbladder removed take it to help with the digestion of fatty meals. Better some cow-derived pills than explosive diarrhea. I had my gallbladder out last December, but haven't had issues frequently enough to try taking bile salt supplements yet.