Re: What else is there to drink?

From: Dhubghall (dougall_at_hagbard.io.com)
Date: 07/13/04 

Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2004 10:55:11 -0500

In alt.fan.cecil-adams Vince Barmann <vbarIONmann@earthlink.net> wrote:
> N:dlzc D:aol T:com (dlzc) wrote:
>> Dear Lord Jubjub:
>>
>> "Lord Jubjub" <jubjub@ev1.net> wrote in message
>> news:jubjub-4ADB4B.21082909072004@corp.supernews.com...
>>
>>>In article <efcc2f4e.0407091045.7ecb2157@posting.google.com>,
>>> robgood1@bestweb.net (Robert Goodman) wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Tristan Miller <psychonaut@nothingisreal.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:<3401026.8KV2YzbsAL@ID-187157.News.Individual.NET>...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Besides water and D2O, are there any chemical compounds that are
>>
>> liquid at
>>
>>>>>room temperature and can be orally consumed by humans in undiluted
>>>>>macroscopic quantities (say, 250 mL at once) without seriously ill
>>>>>effects?
>>>>
>>>>Probably Hg. Heavy in the stomach, of course.
>>>
>>>Mercury????
>>
>>
>> Google search for the term "drank mercury". It has been used for syphilis,
>> as a contraceptive, etc.
>>
>> And realize that "mad as a hatter" came from long term exposure to mercury.

> It's mercuric oxide that's toxic -- it appears as a gray skin on
> the mercury, and can become dry and powdery enough to blow
> around like dust. It sticks to the hand after one handles
> mercury. The problem with drinking it appears to be when it
> settles in the appendix and slowly oxidizes over months or years
> there.

> So, do cartwheels some days after you drink the stuff, I guess.
> Maybe people without appedices are safer. I'd rather heep my
> two indices, myself.

Just for reference there are indications that Hg can methylate in the
intestines (definately can in fish but I think it can happen in mammals as
well) Methyl Hg is really nasty to humans. Minimata Bay in Japan is a
good example of this although that was from consuming poisoned fish. It's
certainly enough of a risk that I would'nt want to try it.

Dougall