Q: "At Las Vegas [Ferrets 2002] I heard you say you thought colloidial silver was a complete waste of time! Why don't you like alternative treatments? A: I have nothing against alternative treatments that are effective and proved safe. However, I've been against the use of colloidal silver for quite some time, for several reasons, the least of which is that there is absolutely ZERO research that proves it is even marginally effective. Oh, I've seen LOTS of claims, but ABSOLUTELY NOTHING has been published that even comes close to supporting the claims of the merchants. My other problem is actually more paramount in my mind. Did you know that penicillin was discovered in 1928, was used extensively, in great quantities, for the next twenty years, and by 1948 half of the bacterial species it was used against had developed resistant strains? Today, it is only minimally effective, and we have had to invent new, more toxic drugs to do the same thing. The reason for this was the indiscriminate use--and abuse--of this wondrous discovery by people who never understood that bacteria were subject to the laws of natural selection. If creationists refuse to believe in evolution, I hope they never get infected by a "flesh-eating" bacteria and only have penicillin to get them by.... The point is, we create our own monsters through the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. They should NEVER be used EXCEPT with the complete supervision of a qualified vet who is in direct care of the sick animal. You can take it that I dislike the use of prophylactic antibiotics except under rigidly defined, controlled circumstances, such as prior to surgery with immune-compromized patients. IF colloidal silver was in that group of substances that acted like an antibiotic, then it should be controlled like one as well. If it was effective, the last thing we need is to feed colloidal silver prophylactically to ferrets and possibly create a super bug that could not only kill our ferrets, but cross over to humans as well. That is irresponsible and immoral, and I don't care if saves dozens of ferret's lives. If there is one chance in a billion that a bacteria could evolve protection against CS and become a dangerous pathogen, then indiscriminate, prophylactic use is criminal. But the truth is, I don't think colloidal silver belongs in such a group. I DO consider it dangerous because I fear it can delay real treatment, it provides a false sense of hope to users, and it may have inhibiting qualities to good bacteria and body cells, or damage them as much (or worse) than the bugs the substance is attempting to kill. Still, without supporting evidence, I guess my opinion is just the same as that of people who support using colloidal silver. [Posted in FML issue 3770]