Peggy Carr's Symptoms Fit Perfectly With Thalium Poisoning

Peggy Carr's feet felt like they were on fire and her mouth was filled with ulcerations. A neurologist at Winter Haven Hospital thought she could have been poisoned by heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and mercury. He also decided to test for a fourth kind of poison: thalium. Thalium is so highly toxic that mild contact with skin alone can be extremely dangerous. In 1972, the US banned its use due to safety concerns. The fact that thalium was illegal made it very unlikely Peggy had encountered it in her home.