/oss/taxonomy/term/2611/all en /oss/article/did-you-know-history/measles-plague-ruined-rome <p><span>Rome wasn’t built in a day, but from 165-180 CE, up to 2,000 of its citizens were killed per day.</span></p> <p><span>The </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonine_Plague">Antonine Plague</a>, also known as the Plague of Galen (after the doctor who described it), decimated the Roman Empire. It was brought to Rome by armies returning from western Asia, causing fevers, skin sores, diarrhea and sore throats.</p> Tue, 26 Jun 2018 18:08:44 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7150 at /oss /oss/article/health-toxicity-you-asked/should-we-be-concerned-about-lead-drinking-water <p>The Romans had a sweet tooth, but didn’t know about sugar. So they boiled down grape juice to make a sweet syrup called “sapa” which they added to wine, as well as to various foods. The acidic juices were boiled in lead vessels because experience had shown that this enhanced the sweetness of the product. Of course, the chemical nuances of the procedure were unknown to the Romans, but we now understand that acids can readily leach lead from containers. Indeed, lead acetate is sometimes referred to as “sugar of lead.”</p> Wed, 07 Nov 2012 03:41:59 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1773 at /oss