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Subacute myelo-optic neuropathy (SMON) is a disease that affects the human [[nervous system]], mainly the spinal nerves.  It originally appeared in [[Japan]] in the 1950's, affecting nearly 100,000 people<ref>[http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=478909 Subacute myelo-optic neuropathy and clioquinol. An epidemiological case-history for diagnosis; T.W. Meade]</ref>. 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 by prescribing the medication clioquinol.  

'''Subacute myelo-optic neuropathy''' (SMON) is a disease that affects the human [[nervous system]], mainly the spinal nerves.  It originally appeared in [[Japan]] in the 1950's, affecting nearly 100,000 people.<ref>[http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=478909 Subacute myelo-optic neuropathy and clioquinol. An epidemiological case-history for diagnosis; T.W. Meade]</ref>  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 by prescribing the medication clioquinol.  

It is an example of an iatrogenic disease.  Iatrogenesis is a condition where the source of medical complications is from a doctor or the medical establishment.  Familiar historical examples include blood-letting.  

It is an example of an iatrogenic disease.  Iatrogenesis is a condition where the source of medical complications is from a doctor or the medical establishment.  Familiar historical examples include blood-letting.