I agree that metal halide and sodium lamps must not be run on DC, but mercury lamps can be with some precautions. Polarity reversing switches were used.
http://www.lamptech.co.uk/Documents/Catalogues/GE%20-%20Catalogue%20-%201956%20US.pdf
Page 57, footnote #5
I understand that there are Xenon metal halide lamps designed for car headlights on DC ballasts, but I wonder what will happen to ordinary quartz metal halide, ceramic metal halide and high pressure sodium lamps if they are operated on a DC ballasted circuit that drives these lamps at the proper arc voltage and current.