The Associated Press reported this story two days ago:   http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1236916/Dying-look-good-French-kings-mistress-killed-gold-elixir-youth.html A mistress of the French King Henry II died from her beauty regime which involved drinking liquid gold, designed to prolong her youthful allure.  The story reads:   “The French court believed gold harnessed the power of the Sun, which would be transferred to the drinker. Alchemists often acted as apothecaries and prescribed solutions made up of gold chloride and diethyl ether.” This, of course, is hardly the first instance of toxic beauty regimens.  The modern Botox injection or silicon breast implant are only two examples, but both women and men have harmed themselves–not always unknowingly–throughout history.   Galena, for example, or lead sulfide, a toxic substance, has been used in kohl since ancient Egypt. This site talks about the use of lead in Ancient Rome:  http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/perspect/lead.htm “Lead was a key component in Read more…