[Blueflag]

Well actually liquid Hg (and vapors thereof) IS/ARE powerful neurotoxins, and we really shouldn’t have been rolling it around in our palms (like we all did). But we know that now, not back then.

One of the worst lab ‘toys’ was DMSO - dimethylsulfoxide, a liquid/solvent that had the interesting property of being able to transport virtually ANY metal through the skin and into the tissues underneath. Folks used it to transport gold and silver through their skin. Trouble is that those of us who were lab rats in school transported a LOT of ‘bad stuff’ through our skin and lungs ‘cuz of DMSO.

OH, and then there was the benzene we used to clean glassware in the biochem labs.

sigh.

[SeeSac]

One of the worst lab ‘toys’ was DMSO

Now it is an 'herbal remedy'!

[prisoner6]

I used to really like Perrie water.

Then the took the benzene out.

I've graduated to booze.

[GWMcClintock]

DMSO is still used in veterinary medicine as a topical anti-inflammatory. I have used it both on horses and on dogs, and it’s use for that particular problem is really remarkable.