Mercury was the remedy of choice for syphilis in Protestant Europe. Until the early 20th century, the primary treatment for syphilis was mercury, in the form of calomel, ointments, steam baths, pills, and other concoctions.
Mercury was already being used in Western Europe to treat skin diseases.
Plants grow in size both in height and in grith. Enlargement of cells already present cannot contribute much to the growth. Only addition of more and more cells could increase the size of the plant considerably.