Crazy as a painter Mad as a hatter?

Posted by ESC on June 21, 2005

In Reply to: Crazy as a painter Mad as a hatter? posted by Word Camel on June 21, 2005

: : How is the original "crazy as a painter" goes?
: : I know it supposed to come from the lead intoxication of painters but couldn't find the original saying. Is it latin? I need it for a medical scientific discussion and I want it to be proper. Thank you!

: I've never come across that one but I've seen "mad as a hatter", which refers to the way hatters were poisoned by the chemicals used in hat making. Where did you see it used?

Vincent van Gogh? www.vangoghmuseum.nl/bisrd/top-1-1.html

One of my associates suggested it might be "painter" as in panther.