There is a “medicine” they used to use in Andrew Jackson’s day (he apparently took it) called “calomel” that was a mercury compound. Shudder
Remember that red liquid used as an antiseptic when we were youngsters? It was the best stuff for a chancre sore. Put it on a Q-tip and gently slide it over the chancre sore before bedtime and in the morning it was all healed up.
Mercurochrome or merthiolate were the names used. It is now no longer available.