Perhaps someone else can respond to whether MT might have suffered from symptoms of mercury poisoning (as described), since the subject has come up. Ben ----- Original Message ----- From: "JULES AUSTIN HOJNOWSKI" <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Tuesday, July 5, 2011 2:37:38 PM Subject: Re: Mark's exposure to mercury Hi, I wish I had the time and money to answer this, but unfortunately I am alre= ady working on transcribing letters for Kent, fixing grammar for a book for= another person, (someone in Europe), and trying to finish writing 3 Twain = books of my own to be published soon, and writing a paper to be given at RR= MLA in the fall :) So sorry :( Jules -----Original Message----- From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ben Wise Sent: Monday, July 04, 2011 12:18 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Mark's exposure to mercury Mercury poisoning symptoms "typically include sensory impairment (vision, = h=3D earing, speech), disturbed sensation and a lack of coordination. The t= ype and degree of symptoms exhibited depend upon the individual toxin, the = dose, a=3D nd the method and duration of exposure." 20 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_poisoning) Does this "explain much of his behavior and some of his illness we hear abo= ut"? If so, can you cite examples or references? Just curious. Ben On Jul 4, 2011, at 11:48 AM, JULES AUSTIN HOJNOWSKI <[log in to unmask]> wro= t=3D e: > Interesting! > I think this would explain much of his behavior and some of his=20 > illness we=3D =3D3D > hear about! >=3D20 > Thanks for posting! > Jules >=3D20 > Sent: Monday, July 04, 2011 1:32 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Mark's exposure to mercury >=3D20 > Just recently I had a conversation about mercury poisoning and it=20 >occurred=3D =3D3D > to me that Twain was exposed to mercury while working in the quartz=20 > mill i=3D n=3D3D > Nevada. He remarks that a gold ring he was wearing was lost due to=20 > the me=3D =3D3D > rcury (quicksilver) used in the milling process. So, obviously he was=20 > exp=3D o=3D3D > sed. Did he exhibit any signs of poisoning then or at any later date?