Question

even during the 1920s, gold therapy was a popular treatment for tuberculosis. despite its popularity, however, the efficacy of medicinal gold was rarely supported by reliable scientific evidence. because medicines and medical practice were not always well regulated, early doctors were free to prescribe treatments - such as gold - without proof that they actually worked.
modern research, however, indicates that gold does have some well - founded medical uses. for instance, gold salts have been shown to palliate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. when patients receive regular injections of gold, it begins to accumulate in their muscles; this reduces joint inflammation, relieving pain and preventing further damage. researchers are also actively investigating the ability of gold nanoparticles to target cancer cells, which could help doctors identify the disease and deliver medication more efficiently. such findings confirm that gold is, as people have believed for thousands of years, rich in medical potential.
what is the meaning of panacea as used in the passage?
novelty
pain reliever
last resort
cure - all

Explanation:

The passage mentions that gold was used as a treatment (for tuberculosis in the past and for rheumatoid arthritis now, and is being investigated for cancer). The word "panacea" in a medical context typically means a cure - all. The other options: "novelty" (something new) is not relevant as gold has been used for a long time; "pain reliever" is too narrow as the text implies broader medical uses; "last resort" (a final option) is not indicated in the text.

Answer:

cure - all