enslaved people kaolin clay antidiarrheal medicine

A clay remedy helped bring kaolin into medicine

In the 1800s, enslaved people in the southeastern United States consumed kaolin clay partly to ease diarrhea. Scientific study of this practice helped bring kaolin, the clay’s mineral, into antidiarrheal medicines.

Goods traveled farther than people did

On New Guinea, goods passed through chains of local exchanges and traveled long distances, even though people rarely traveled far along the trade routes. Cultural practices likely spread through these networks as well.

The Soviet government reopened churches during WWII

After closing most religious institutions—by 1940, as many as 90% of the churches, synagogues, and mosques operating in 1917 were shut—the Soviet government reopened churches during World War II and worked with Orthodox leaders. Religious institutions, in turn, rallied to support the war effort.

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enslaved people kaolin clay antidiarrheal medicine

A clay remedy helped bring kaolin into medicine

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