OOOoooooooo nice choice FN!!!! That hat will pay for itself in compliments!

Nuthin like a fur hat
Suz

Till you get mercury poisoning.

Dimitri

What? Mercury poisoning from what?

checkin out the thermometer
Suz

When processing fur they used to use a mercury solution that was toxic to the workers and the hat owners. Korsakoff's syndrome can develop from mercury poisoning from one's hat, hence "mad as a hatter". Also referenced in Alice in Wonderland's Mad Hatter.

Dimitri

Dimitri!! Well I learned something today, thank you very much. Now I can (with your permission) say "mad as a hatter" and know WTF I'm saying! Here's what wikipedia says about it;

Conditions resulting in the vitamin deficiency and its effects include chronic alcoholism, and severe malnutrition. Alcoholism is often an indicator of poor nutrition, which in addition to inflammation of the stomach lining, causes thiamine deficiency.[4] Other causes include dietary deficiencies, prolonged vomiting, eating disorders, or the effects of chemotherapy. It can also occur in pregnant women who have a form of extreme morning sickness known as hyperemesis gravidarum.[5] Mercury poisoning can also lead to Korsakoff's syndrome.[citation needed] It has also been caused by centipede (mukade) bites in Japan.[6]

gimme another beer, not that one! The left handed one!

A famous case study is recounted by Oliver Sacks in "The Lost Mariner" and "A Matter of Identity", which can be found in The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. Other cases include German entertainer Harald Juhnke, artist Charles Blackman,[9] and entertainer Graham Kennedy.[10]

Gotta steam my hat back in shape....oh sorry dear....your brim's a little flat today...
I've got to find someone with the syndrome....what fun it could be!

sputterin
Suz

I have an old Black Baily, but I think it's post mercury...Then again...That may explain some of my tyraids...

Mercury has not really been used for 150+ years in developed countries as other methods to do that job were found. But I wouldn't put it past a 3rd world country processing fur that way as I doubt anyone checks clothing coming in from there.

Dimitri

IMR orange,/Hoddon tan ball cap or Smoky Bear campaign hat.