Metal Poisoning from the Bath Compass

"The Bath Compass," you say, "it used up bottles and bottles of mercury. Where did all that mercury go?"

"It evaporated," Claudia says. Then with a start she looks at you, a light growing in her eyes. "And then they inhaled it."

"I think that's it," you say. "I'm sure that's it. The mercury evaporated out of the Bath Compass. The mercury vapor collected inside the cramped tent. Day in and day out, people breathed it, and the mercury began to poison their brains."

"They went mad as hatters," Claudia agrees. "You twigged it, yes you have."

"And that's why everyone was affected," you go on. "Everyone breathed the air inside the tent."

"Except for one person." Claudia waves the fax. "Lieutenant Harding."

An Access Excellence Science Mystery sponsored by Genentech, Inc.
Copyright © 1997 Genentech, Inc.; all rights reserved.