Solid Gold Cauldron

[melclaros]

No: HPFGUIDX 75143

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "The Crashing Boar" 
<crashing.boar at n...> wrote:
> 
>   I was about to reply that this is only true if it is the leadfree 
type, which is the only kind legal to use in Britain these days as 
the lead can be transfered by touch (and the vapour while molten), 
when a thought hit me.  What if pewter is used in it's traditional 
form and isn't leadfree in the WW.
> 
>   Doing a search on lead poisoning, I discovered that low level 
lead poisoning can produce, amongst other possible symptoms, anaemia 
(sallow, pale complexion), loss of appetite, mood shifts such as 
aggression or depression, and insomnia, as well as problems like 
(paraphrased from a case study)
>   - Sunlight seemed dazzling
>   - must always be on their guard
>   - People deceived them all the time
>   - Thoughts crowd into the mind too rapidly for discussion
>   - had little respect for theirself
>   - skin was very sensitive
>   - bothered by murderous ideas
>   - loathed people who touched them
>   - Without their work they would be nothing
>   - felt lost in a crowd
> 
>   The lead can also be laid down in the hair and bones, including 
the teeth, possibly affecting their outward appearance.
> 


I think you're on to something here--I forwarded your idea to a 
medically trained friend of mine who responded with this:

http://www.aan.com/students/medical/pro_cas.cfm

After picking myself up off the floor following a prolonged laughing 
fit upon reading the 1st paragraph I managed to struggle through the 
rest...
I don't think Snape's a vampire--but I can see how he might be 
mistaken for one if this is indeed his problem. Quick! Get that man a 
bottle of One-A-Day with Iron!

Melpomene, who really does have better things to do, really.