Its true that the vapour of mercury is more poisonous as it can be inhaled
and spread systemically in the body to the brain where it is a neurotoxin.
However the gold prospectors around the amazon use tonnes of the stuff by
putting the mercury into the gold containing minerals in a handkerchief and
twisting it. The mercury is more reactive than gold and "displaces" the gold
salt leaving small amounts of gold in the handkerchief. The mercury comes
into direct contact with their hands and runs into the river! I believe
quite a prolonged contact with a large quantity is required to be posioned.
I mean... most of you guys would have had dental work and if you have
amalgam fillings then you have mercury in your very mouth!
On the other hand I have heard of mercury thermometers expulsing their
contents in tight body cavities if you get my drift....
----- Original Message -----
From: "Timpe, Jim" <Jim.Timpe@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2001 12:27 AM
Subject: RE: [OM] HELP: what should I take !?!?!
> I'm pretty sure that it's mercury vapor that's so poisonous. As long as
you
> don't overly agitate the stuff, or elevate it in temperature too much
(sorry
> to whoever that was that shared the story about vaporizing some as a kid),
> you're REASONABLY safe.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dirk Wright [mailto:wright@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Friday, May 04, 2001 7:25 AM
> To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: [OM] HELP: what should I take !?!?!
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> >>>>>>>From: Chris O'Neill
> >
> >>>>>>>P.S. I prefer using DEET to keep the bugs off. There's NOTHING
like
>
> >>>>>>>that nice, chemical feeling all over your body! :-)
> >
> >
> >Then, a nice topical application of mercury, heated to just below the
vapor
> >point...
> >
> >You won't worry about the mosquitoes any more...
> >
>
> Actually, I just found out that mercury is sometimes used as a
preservative
> in certain skin creams......
> --
> Be Seeing You.
> Dirk Wright
>
>
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