In a world concerned with virus and disease, silver is increasingly tapped for its bactericidal properties and used to treat a range of conditions including severe burns. Only in recent times have modern antibiotics replaced such treatment. A silver-based compound has become the most widely used drug for treating burn wounds. Recent research shows that silver also promotes the production of new cells, increasing the rate of healing in wounds and bone. The regeneration of whole areas of lost skin is being accomplished by the use of silver treatment.
Research indicates that silver-based purification systems are effective in disinfecting water.
For the home, silver-based water purifiers are becoming increasingly common. Here silver is used to prevent the buildup of bacteria and algae in the filters. Research has also shown that the catalytic action of silver, in concert with oxygen, provides a powerful sanitizer, virtually eliminating the need for chlorine in swimming pools. Polyvalent silver oxide, a highly charged silver, is finding wide application in the treatment of bacterial and viral disease. William Conrad Roentgen's discovery of x-rays in 1895, led to his discovery that they activate silver halide crystals.