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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 87
Senior Member
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Apparently, Abraham Lincoln was poisoned by elemental mercury by taking pills. While this article (link below) makes recovering from mercury sound too easy, it contains a highly ironic statement: Physicians in the 1800s did not know that mercury is a powerful neurotoxin. Once ingested, mercury binds to molecules in the central nervous system and can cause behavioral problems. I love the condescending tone they use; oh those unenlightened 19th century physicians who were ignorant about mercury. Thank God we're advanced enough in the 21st century to know enough not to put mercury in people's mouths. Right? Right? http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/linc.html
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 573
Elite Member
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Well, not exactly, contemporary physicans are enlightened enough to acknowledge that mercury is a potent neurotoxin, that once ingested binds to molecules in the central nervous system BUT does not cause problems in a persons mouth.
don't ever doubt them.
LOL
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Makes you wonder if his wife took mercury laced pills and it contributed to her losing her mind.
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 27
Junior Member
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A lot of people in the 1800's knew mercury was bad stuff:
1856: American Society of Dental Surgeons, because of its stance against dental amalgam, is disbanded in 1856 due to loss of membership.
Maybe they were trying to kill Lincoln or make him crazy like the rest of us. Bad things tend to happen to good presidents.
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