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The earliest documented use of the phrase "mad as a hatter" appears in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, January-June 1829. It appears in a section of the magazine headed Noctes Ambrocianæ. No. XL1V:
TICKLER (aside to SHEPHERD.): He's raving.
SHEPHERD (to TICKLER.): Dementit.
ODOHERTY (to both.): Mad as a hatter. Hand me a segar.
So the term is at least one hundred and eighty years old.
It is believed to have come about because hatters in the eighteenth and nineteenth century frequently suffered from Mercury poisoning. Mercury is a chemical which used to be used in the production of felt hats. It is extremely toxic and can cause symptoms which appear to be similar to 'madness'.
Hatters in Danbury, Conneticut, USA are known to have suffered the ill effects of mercury poisoning, the symptoms of which were known locally as "the Danbury shakes." It is also claimed that the Danbury hatmakers were known as "the mad hatters," but evidence is unavailable as to whether this predates the appearance of the phrase in Blackwood's.
Apparently in New Zealand the name "hatter" was given to miners /prospectors who work alone. It was thought that they frequently went mad from the solitude of their claim away in the bush although it is more likely that they were named "hatters" after the phrase, rather than the phrase being named after them.
There also is a theory that the phrase is a corruption of the term 'as mad as an adder', which is roughly equivalent to 'as angry as a rattle-snake'.
The phrase has of course been immortalised by the Hatter in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, who was named "the Mad Hatter" in Disney's 1951 adaptation.
Marvin Durgan
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What is the most commonly mined ore yielding a neurotoxin as in the phrase mad as a hatter?
Cinnabar
What is the idoim mad as a hatter?
The phrase "Mad as a Hatter" has its origin from the use of Mercuric Nitrate to carrot, or lay felt in hat manufacture in the 19th century.The mercury compounds caused serious tremors and other physical problems and have since been put under strict control and even banned in some cases.
What is the Mad Hatter's occupation?
The Mad Hatter is a hatter. He makes and sells hats for a living.
When was Mad as a Hatter created?
Mad as a Hatter was created in 1992.
Is the mad hatter's name Tarrant in the book?
No. In the original book, the mad hatter doesn't have a name, he isn't even called 'the Mad Hatter', he is simply called 'the Hatter'.
Who is the Mad Hatter's friend?
The March Hare is the Mad Hatter's friend.
At the tea party is the Hare considered a hatter too or is the Mad Hatter the only one?
Only the Mad Hatter is a hatter. The name "The Mad Hatters Tea Party" might suggest that there is more than one hatter there, but if you put the apostrophe in the correct place it becomes "The Mad Hatter's Tea Party", which means, "the tea party belonging to the Mad Hatter".
Is the Mad Hatter a rabbit in Alice in Wonderland?
No, the Mad Hatter is a human being.
When was The Mad Hatter Mystery created?
The Mad Hatter Mystery was created in 1933.
When was The Mad Hatter - album - created?
The Mad Hatter - album - was created in 1978.
When was Mad Hatter - album - created?
Mad Hatter - album - was created in 1992.
When was Mad Hatter - comics - created?
Mad Hatter - comics - was created in 1948.
