After World War II, our country went crazy producing asbestos. In addition to its use in military construction, it was hugely popular for home building materials. Eventually we figured out that these long, silicone fibers used in everything from clothing to siding your house could actually sit in your lungs and eventually kill you. And while there were still some who profited from its sale, most uses of asbestos were banned in the United Statesby 1999.

From the days of the Greek Empire to the end of the 19th century, bloodletting, a.k.a.