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assume arsenic isn’t the culprit,but it’s the only poison I can think of associated with hair loss.”
    â€œThe logical choice, but that would be too easily detected. What I remember about the poison I’m referring to is that it’s a fairly rare element in the boron family and is sometimes used as a rat poison.”
    â€œA metal?”
    â€œYes, indeed. Very good. Your memory is undoubtedly better than mine. All I need is a book with the periodic table in it. I know I’ll recognize what I’m looking for as soon as I see it.”
    Â 
    Mr. Holmes dashed through the door and found his way to the Reference Room. Hands shaking, he opened a folio-sized chemistry book and laid it flat on the table. “Aha. Come here, Wiggins.”
    His index finger flew over the symbols and stopped on the right side of the chart. “Here it is.”
    I looked down. “What’s TL?”
    â€œThallium. It comes from the Greek word for ‘green twig,’ because Sir William Crookes discovered a green line in his spectroscope while analyzing ore samples for the presence of gold. He was expecting a yellow line from tellurium, which is a common alloy produced in mining. It turned out to be a new element.” Holmes slapped his forehead with both hands. “I’m amazed I couldn’t remember it. What else have I forgotten?”
    I sympathized, knowing from personal experience what he meant. “Your mind is a vast library, Mr. Holmes. You may not remember everything you’ve read at one time or another, but the most important thing is you still know where to find what you need to know.”
    He looked unconvinced.
    â€œOkay. You forgot thallium. Tell me about tellurium.”
    â€œTellurium isn’t a poison, so I haven’t paid much attention to it,” he said with a dismissive wave. “It was discovered by a Rumanian scientist who was the chief inspector of mines in that country. Tellurium is produced in the mining of gold. Von Reichenstein thought it was antimony but realized it was something else. I don’t remember how it occurs naturally.”
    Finished, he made a face and shook his head. “Mere elementary chemistry, Wiggins. Hardly of any importance whatsoever.”
    â€œOn the contrary, sir, it is of extreme importance. Perhaps not to our investigation, but still highly important. Despite what you may think, your mind is as sharp as it ever was. Time has just put a nick or two in the blade.”
    He still looked unhappy. “I appreciate your words of comfort, Wiggins. Be that as it may, I have a few more references to look up, then we can be on our way.”
    My colleague’s mood had improved markedly by the time we were at the bus stop, waiting to go home. Better still, he showed signs of genuine excitement I hadn’t noticed from the time of his arrival.
    â€œWe’re on the right track, dear friend. Hair loss and peripheral pain are two of the main symptoms of Thallium poisoning. I can easily understand why the doctors who treated him were unaware of what was causing his agony. Thallium sulfate is a particularly insidious type of poison. It’s exactly the same size molecule as potassium and metabolized as such. It interferes with processing sulfur. It’s unfortunate Mr. Houdini didn’t realize what was happening to him. He could have been cured with Paris Blue if he’d been treated early enough.”
    â€œHe was buried on the fourth of November” I said. “We could contact Mrs. Houdini to see if she would agree to have him exhumed for an autopsy. The information we’ve uncovered should be sufficient to warrant one.”
    Mr. Holmes nodded with enthusiasm. “Excellent suggestion. I’ll wire her immediately. However, she may be unwilling. The results, if positive for thallium, would prove he didn’t die an accidental death, and that could cause some problems for his