It has been issued that mercury compounds were used in 19th century hat making. The use of mercury in the making of hats has resulted to mercury poisoning which is known as "Mad Hatter's disease." This issue has trembled hatters that lead them to appear insane....
Conventional wisdom holds that the "Mad Hatter" of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland earned his name because he exhibited psychotic behavior from mercury poisoning. The first description of mercurialism in hatters was published by J. Addision Freeman, M.D., in Transactions of the Medical Society ...