How Rich People in the Middle Ages Made Themselves Dull-Witted
How Rich People in the Middle Ages Made Themselves Dull-Witted
23 Oct 2015, 00:15 GMT
They inadvertently poisoned themselves with lead
Having exhumed and analyzed the remains of a couple hundred individuals who lived during the Middle Ages in Germany and Denmark, a team of researchers found evidence that, in those days, rich people unknowingly made themselves, erm, not smart.
They did this by inadvertently poisoning themselves with lead, the University of Southern Denmark scientists explain in a recent study in the Journal of Archaeological Science.
Historical records show that, in those days, people were in the habit of glazing cups and plates with lead to make them all beautifully colored and shinny. Of course, only the very wealthy could afford to eat and drink from such exquisite dishes.
What they didn't know was that, when they ate acidic foods, the lead glazing their plates and cups would work its way in their body. In time, it would build up and take its toll on their health.
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Lead Poisoning Rampant for Wealthy Medieval Europeans
It wasn't just the Romans that accidentally poisoned themselves
image: 
lead skull
(Birgitte Svennevig/SDU)
By Danny Lewis
smithsonian.com
October 22, 2015 2:30PM
During the Middle Ages in Europe, only the rich could afford beautifully designed and delicately glazed pottery to hold their food and drink. Unfortunately for them, that same glaze was full of heavy metals and may have deadened their minds as it slowly killed them, according to new research.
These days, doctors know that exposure to mercury damages the nervous system, while lead can affect intelligence and overall health. But unintentional poisonings are common throughout history. The Romans used lead like sugar, which may have contributed to the eventual fall of the Roman Empire.
In the Middle Ages, mercury was commonly used in medicines to cure diseases like syphilis and leprosy, and lead was used to glaze pottery. Salty and acidic foods placed on lead-glazed surfaces would partially dissolve the glaze and seep into the foods, study author Kaare Lund Rasmussen says in a press release.
Curious about if these commonly used substances affected people during the Middle Ages, a team of researchers measured lead and mercury in 207 skeletons from graveyards in both wealthy towns and rural communities in Denmark and Germany.
Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/lead-poisoning-made-medieval-townspeople-sickly-180957021/#pW5sjV9vmhMDBM6C.99
