Lincoln Letter to John Stuart

[Hess1865]

Here's another scary use of mercury:
I always heard that Jefferson Davis was blind in one eye.
Several years ago I was taking a tour of the Confederate White House in Richmond. I mentioned to the tour guide Davis' blindness. She corrected me and told this story: it seems Davis caught some kind of eye infection while on vacation in Maine during the 1850's. Anyhow, as part of the treatment, every day his wife Varina filled an eyedropper up with a combination of MERCURY AND AMMONIA{!!!} and put it in his eye!!! The guide said Davis would have to lie down after as he would get a splitting headache!!! Talk about 1860's medicinal procedures!!
I even told my eye doctor the story, and he was amazed and shocked!!

BTW, if you ever get the chance, check out the Confederate Museum and the Confederate White House, which is right next door. Well worth visiting!!