Painter's Colic

Lead poisoning was an occupational hazard for 19th century house painters. At that time, it was called “painter’s colic”.

(pictured: Chronic Lead Poisoning in an American House Painter. Male aged 60.5 years: Repeated Attacks of Lead Colic. 18 months: Bilateral Wrist-drop. 3 weeks: Symmetrical Paralysis and Wasting of Shoulder-girdle Muscles. After treatment with Ammonium Chloride the Shoulder-girdle Paralysis largely recovered but Complete Bilateral Wrist-drop persisted)