From: "ed sharpe" <esharpe(a)uswest.net> "Pure mercury sulphide used to be used as vermilion pigment (which may explain something about some artists)". Yes... other pigments got them too! but in the case of old 'one ear Vincent you also can mix in syphilis and also drinking absinth ( had word wood in it goggle this for more info). the painters life was full of toxins and infection!