The Porphyria, Plumbism, Pottery Puzzle

A documented case of perinatal lead poisoning.

“…A large proportion of adults in the United States report using sunscreens during recreation,11 and the American Medical Association has recommended that frequent use of sunscreens should become a standard procedure for children. 6 Although sunscreens, including PABA and its esters prevent sunburn,1 [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] there has never been any epidemiological or laboratory evidence that they prevent either melanoma or basal cell carcinoma in humans.…”

Seeing purple†

“…Under the rubric of whimsical science, must be considered the assertions that the demise of the Etruscans, 67 the Fall of the Roman Empire 68 and the ill-fate of the Franklin expedition to map the Northwest Passage, 69 was a result of plumbism-induced acute porphyria, like the lead poisoning that leaches out from toxic decanters and Toby jugs. [70][71][72][73] Lay preoccupation with the illnesses of the rich and famous has been no less active in the realm of porphyria that seems to have a predilection for artists and writers, if the experience of van Gogh, 74,75 Heinrich Heine 76 and Isabel Allende 77 are representative. What does seem clear, however, is that the mythology of werewolves and vampires deserves only scorn and has no place in the legend of porphyrins, 78 being particularly hurtful to true sufferers of the cutaneous forms of the disease.…”