1-152-782 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

'Hat Maker'. Manufacture of 'beaver' hats by felting material in a kettle (background) and blocking (shaping) the hat and brushing the pile. Although called beaver, little or no beaver fur was used. According to quality, nap on felt fabric was made of mixtures of beaver, musquash or rabbit fur, and cotton wool, Mercury was used in the kettle process and many hatters suffered from the uncontrollable shaking typical of mercury poisoning, which damaged the central nervous system. The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland exhibited these symptoms.