The Myth of the Mad Hatter - Making a Victorian Top Hat

The Mad Hatter has become a character, rather than the reality of the 19th century. We hear about it as a macabre tale of Victorian ignorance- using a deadly poison for an industrial process and dismissing the warning signs. Though the phrase “mad as a hatter“ had become common place before Alice in Wonderland, the origins and meaning weren’t as clear at the time. As health issues within the hatting industry continued to rise, research was done to better understand the symptoms and the cause. By mid century it was well established that mercury was a primary culprit, but it took nearly another century before the use of mercury in hat making was illegal. How did this practice last so long? And why did they end up using a poison in the first place? To understand better, we need to look at the problem through the experiences of those working the line, rather than judgmental doctors or sensational articles. The simple answer is Carroting. It was a process that prepared the fur on the hides to