When encountering the expression "Mad as a Hatter," most people instantly imagine the iconic Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland. While Lewis Carroll's creation is entertaining, the phrase was first used in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine in 1829, long before Alice's 1865 debut.
While the history of the phrase has been the subject of some debate, it is generally accepted that the expression originated as a result of mercury nitrate poisoning. The compound was used in the process of stripping fur off of animal pelts for the manufacturing of felt, which was then made into hats. The hatters were exposed to high levels of mercury vapors, often resulting in brain damage. Doctors of the time reported discovering holes the size of quarters in the brains of some sufferers. The victims exhibited symptoms of sensory and coordination impairment and a labile affect, marked by uncontrollable crying, inappropriate laughing, mood swings and the inability to regulate one's emotions - giving one the appearance of being "mad."
During the peak of production, some five million hats were made each year. It wasn't until the 1940s that mercury was banned from the manufacturing process. However, there is some evidence that mercury is still present at the factory sites even today.
-Professor Walter
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