BAL is a dithiol analogue of the glycerol that is used to make the fatty phospholipids and triglycerides in our bodies. While it has two thiols per molecule and binds these metal toxins tightly, it may also resemble and inhibit lipoic (thioctic) acid that is important for fat metabolism. Since gold and bismuth need the same antidote as mercury, and since bismuth's solubility product constant indicates that it binds sulfur chemistry more tenaciously than mercury, none of these can be considered safe for our daily exposure. “Mad as a hatter” and “gold fever” are probably derived from the fact that people wearing wool hats during the Civil War era and 1849er prospectors working in gold dust appeared to lose their sanity, as did the entire nation so afflicted and conflicted.