My New Project arrives after a 44 year wait!

[Nurse Julie]

Did you instruct on the hazards of mercury when the mercury arc rectifiers got broken or scrapped?
Heard stories of the floors of control rooms having tiny globules of mercury sloshing about.

I spent most of my junior nursing career scrabbling around on the floor attempting to pick up mercury from broken thermometers by slipping a piece of paper under the globules. Once achieved, the mercury globules were thrown in the bin. In latter years, we were issued with Mercury spill kits which stopped all the fun.

[Oddjob]

I'm not an expert of Weils disease by any stretch but when my bike was covered in rat piss I did a little research on how dangerous it could potentially be and TBH it was commonly reported by the medical profession as not very. Didn't read a single study by doctors that said anything about it killing within 24 hours, most said a low risk infection, treatable with antibiotics that presented with flu like symptoms after a few days of exposure.

I'm not trying to downplay the risk, maybe LU had training like that to minimise legal claims or to lessen their exposure to potential compensation. Wouldn't be the first time a company has overinflated the risk factor in order to get the message home.

HSE says this about it.

The Weil's disease form of leptospirosis is contracted from the urine of infected rats. The bacteria get into your body through cuts and scratches or through the lining of the mouth, throat and eyes after contact with infected urine or contaminated water. It is a rare condition in the UK. The disease starts with flu-like symptoms such as a headache or muscle pains. More severe cases can lead to meningitis, kidney failure and other serious conditions. In rare cases the disease can be fatal.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

When I worked in a Kellner-Solvay Hall full of moving Mercury Amalgam Beds at Associated Octel in Ellesmere Port circa 1867/8 we would have the odd leak of Mercury - a typical spill might be as much as a litre from a handful of overflowing  Beds - usually caused by a power glitch as the on site Power Station back up tripped in.

We swept the bulk of Mercury spills using a brush & pan resorting to Cardice to freeze the small globules long enough to pick them or brush it up before it turned from a solid back into a liquid again. All done whilst wearing a Respirator due to a Hall full of Chlorine Gas as we rushed to re-fill the water Manometers on each Bed.

We had regular blood test to detect any build up of Mercury in the body - early symptoms were bad nightmares! Happy carefree days though.

[Sesman]

The report is correct, I developed bacterial meningitis….twice. But only once from rats piss. Best knowledge at the time suggested it was from water in some piled up tractor tyres at the farm. It’s the worlds best weight loss programme.

[Oddjob]

Lets infect Roo, from all accounts he needs to shed a load of excess weight 

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Not sure if the story is true but there was a spike in Weil's Disease in the Liverpool area a few decades back believed the source was traced to 'Fashion Drinking' out of a bottle instead of a glass - infection path was thought to be infected rats in Pub Cellars peeing on the crates even though some were cling film packed.

[Johnny4428]

There’s a local guy here in Orkney that was a creel fisherman. He was just in his 20’s when he contracted Weils disease he was in a coma for weeks and ended up brain damaged and in a wheel chair permanently.
It is reckoned his creels that were ashore for whatever reason were urinated on and entered his bloodstream via a small cut on his finger. Certainly ruined his life. (Frightening)😰😰

[Oddjob]

How long ago was this Johnny, I'm wondering if it was a long time ago and advancements in antibiotics mean that Weils is not as bad as it was in the past, like Polio for instance.

[Johnny4428]

Not sure Ken, probably going back to sometime in the 80’s, definately long time ago.

[taysidedragon]

Not sure Ken, probably going back to sometime in the 80’s, definately long time ago.

That makes me feel old. The 80s, a long time ago! 🤔

[TrickyMicky]

Not sure Ken, probably going back to sometime in the 80’s, definately long time ago.

  "LONG TIME AGO!!!!"  One of my Hondas is a 1987 model, it's the newest one I've ever owned, it's got all this modern electronic ignition gubbins. You've just made a happy man feel very old.   

[Johnny4428]

Oh heck!😳😳! Come to think about it bloody makes me feel old as well! 🤣🤣

[Matt_Harrington]

Did you instruct on the hazards of mercury when the mercury arc rectifiers got broken or scrapped?
Heard stories of the floors of control rooms having tiny globules of mercury sloshing about.

I spent most of my junior nursing career scrabbling around on the floor attempting to pick up mercury from broken thermometers by slipping a piece of paper under the globules. Once achieved, the mercury globules were thrown in the bin. In latter years, we were issued with Mercury spill kits which stopped all the fun.

Oooh, the fun we had at school playing with mercury when young! 

[SteveD CB500K0]

Lead floats in mercury. Memorable secondary school physics experiment.

Doubt if it would be allowed now.


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[Laverdaroo]

Lets infect Roo, from all accounts he needs to shed a load of excess weight 

folk in glass houses etc!