Although the mental and physical problems from metal toxicity have escalated in recent years, our very language tacitly acknowledges the historic toxicity of
certain metals: «
Mad as a
hatter» from the Civil - War - era's crazed use of mercury sizing in hat manufacture, «gold fever» from the murderous greed of early prospectors, «lead poisoning» as black humor for «getting shot,» and, more recently, «get - the - lead - out» exhortations from trainers who would have us exercise long and hard in order to sweat out toxins and melt excess fat.