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Drinking alcohol from lead cups?
Hi,
I heard a rumor about the origins of the word 'wake' (as in a funeral wake) and etymology aside I didnt believe the fact! The basis of It said:
Drinking alcohol from lead cups used to knock people out, sometimes for many hours or days!!!
My question is:
i) What would be the effects of drinking strong alcohol (whiskey etc) out of a lead cup on the human body? (If it was done on a regular basis)
ii) Would it even be possible for lead + alcohol to knock you out for a day/s?
Thanks
1 Answer
- Midnite RamblerLv 78 years agoFavorite Answer
The word "wake" stems from the ancient Indo-European root "wog" or "weg", meaning "to be active", related to the Latin word "vigil". This evolved into several meanings, including "growth" ("vegetable"), "to become or stay alert," and "watching or guarding." The third also evolved into the word "watch," and it is in this sense that people have a "wake" for someone who recently died.
In other words "wake" doesn't mean being knocked out but in fact means staying awake and watching over a newly-deceased person in a vigil.
Lead is a relatively unreactive metal with ethanol although acidic drinks will dissolve the lead so that when drunk it will induce lead poisoning which causes a whole range of symptoms including nerve damage, depression, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and muscle pain. None of the symptoms of lead poisoning include prolonged unconsciousness - this was most likely due to excessive alcohol consumption.
