Subacute myelo-optic neuropathy (SMON) is a disease that effects the human nerve system. It originally appeared in Japan in the 1960's, affecting thousands. For a decade and a half the Japanese public and its medical doctors were lead to believe it to be an infectious disease by overzealous virus hunters. Eventually, it was realized that doctors were accidentally causing the disease when they prescribed the medication clioquinol. | Subacute myelo-optic neuropathy (SMON) is a disease that effects the human nerve system. It originally appeared in Japan in the 1960's, affecting thousands. For a decade and a half the Japanese public and its medical doctors were lead to believe it to be an infectious disease by overzealous virus hunters. Eventually, it was realized that doctors were accidentally causing the disease when they prescribed the medication clioquinol. |