h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I always thought this was a medical condition.

I found this in the Columbia Encyclopaedia (http://www.bartleby.com/65/ch/choreami.html) which supports my admittedly poor memory.

I stand corrected if you have other references.

turvy

And here's another interesting link.

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintv07.htm

turvy

Heavy-metal poisoning *is* a medical condition.

(No, I don't mean the music, so )

I suffered from chorea when I was eight years old.
(This was in the 1950s). The only treatment my doctor
had for the condition was a medication that contained
arsenic.

As for mercury poisoning, my grandmother (mother's side)
took some mercury medication for what she thought
was constipation. It turned out to be a strangulated
hernia. Needless to say, it did her more harm than
good. She nearly died. As it was, she needed emergency
surgery.

Yes, both arsenic and mercury were used in medications
in the 20th century. Doctors prescribed them, and people
followed their doctors' orders.