Silver has been used in wound care throughout the millennia for its
antimicrobial properties. It was used by many cultures, predominantly in
times of war, as an antimicrobial reservoir for food and water, from the
ancient Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, up to the Second
World War (Alexander, 2009). The first mention of silver as a medicine
comes from Hippocrates, who used silver particles in wounds for its
beneficial therapeutic effects and anti-disease properties (Fong, 2005).
Meanwhile, John Woodall recommended the use of silver nitrate in
chronic wound management as early as 1617 (Klasen, 2000)