HEAVY METAL POISONING

The heavy metal cations of interest are Hg²⁺, Pb²⁺, As³⁺, and Ag⁺. Their main mode of action is to disrupt ionic, disulfide and hydrogen bonds.

 The links below are to sites that tell stories of heavy metal "poisoning" of historical figures.

Karen Blixen's Medical History: A New Look. Also known by her pen name of Isak Dinesen, she is best known for her autobiographical story "Out of Africa". Her syphilis was treated with both mercury and arsenic but it wasn't clear if either or both of these "medicines" contributed to her ill-health.

Napoleon's life history continues to fascinate people and recent chemical analysis has added to the legend in The Strange Story of Napoleon's Wallpaper.