§ Dr. Strossasked the Minister of Health what advice he has received as to the association of mercury poisoning in infants, following the ingestion of teething powders or tablets containing mercury, with Pink disease; how many infants have died within the last two years from Pink disease, and how many from mercurial poisoning; and in how many cases both factors applied.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI am advised that the degree of association between mercury poisoning and Pink disease has not been clearly established. Many cases of Pink disease have no demonstrable association with ingestion of mercury and the great majority of children who have been given mercurial preparations show no sign of the disease. It seems possible that some few infants may have an exceptional sensitivity to mercury. In 1952 and 1953, 64 children under five years' old were certified as dying from Pink disease and four from mercury poisoning; in two cases both Pink disease and mercury poisoning were mentioned in the death certificate.