Anti-Depressant Pills Behind Abraham Lincoln’s Temper

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By Cara

Wednesday, March 24, 2010, 12:05

Everybody is well aware of US Prez, Abraham Lincoln's uncontrolled temper, but the reason behind it has at last been ruled out. His sudden outbursts of rage has been traced to small blue anti-depressants pills, that he used to take.

Researchers at the Royal Society of Chemistry have found that the medicine meant to treat the “cave of gloom" contained up to 120 times the acceptable daily intake of mercury.

Excess intake of mercury is known to lead to violent temper, apart from problems such as nausea, vomiting, dehydration and diarrhoea.

The late President"s sudden outbursts of fury has been described by his aides. A contemporary revealed that he was once so angry that he grabbed a former aide and shook him “until his teeth chattered."

However, Lincoln quit taking the pills at the outset of the American Civil War in 1861. His calmness under pressure during the conflict had apparently surprised many.