Mad Hatter Disease
Added 2022-11-04 11:15:00 +0000 UTCDirect link: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CUf1ua6NWbg
The medical name for mad hatter disease is erethism, and thankfully it's very rare today. The harmful properties of mercury are well-known, and so people who have to work with it take suitable precautions.
Not so during the 1800s, though. In fact, the man who shot President Abraham Lincoln's assassin (rather than capturing him alive as he was ordered) was an ex-hatmaker, and might have been suffering from the condition.
That would certainly help explain some of his more erratic behaviour. As well as impulsively shooting the assassin, he also threatened people with a gun, and attempted to castrate himself with a pair of scissors.
Comments
I hadn't heard of this before, but had a quick look now... and it lead me onto the "Four Big Pollution Diseases of Japan". A real tragic and long-running episode in the history of the country. Have added it to the list - there's definitely a full episode to be covered on each of them.
Fascinating Horror
2022-11-05 10:34:50 +0000 UTCAgreed!
Fascinating Horror
2022-11-05 10:31:30 +0000 UTCSpeaking of mercury poisonings, have you ever thought of doing an episode on the Minamata Disease (an outbreak of methylmercury poisoning in Kyushu in Japan). It'd be a full episode though.
NagaNos
2022-11-05 03:31:41 +0000 UTCCrazy bit of history.
Marie Horton
2022-11-04 17:18:21 +0000 UTC
