> if it were a more obvious and rapid killer/debilitator... Not really. Back then people would drop dead for a myriad of combination of poorly understood reaso

> if it were a more obvious and rapid killer/debilitator... Not really. Back then people would drop dead for a myriad of combination of poorly understood reasons and incurable diseases. Serious bacterial infection? You're dead. Cancer? You're dead. Anyeurism? Dead. Heart attack? Probably dead. Fought in a war? Dead. Spanish flu? Dead. Polio? Dead. Worked in a coal mine? Dead. Hazardous industrial job? Dead. So things like mercury or radiation poisioning had to take a number.