Possible #Phylloxera “remedy ” in 1883. San Francisco druggist Mr. Bauer suggests the introduction of finely divided metallic mercury (= quicksilver) into the soil to "kill the phylloxera or any other small insect remaining." Original University of California Report (p 178)
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=LGgNAQAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.PA10&amp=&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_vpt_read #winehistory