The periodic table abbreviation for lead is Pb, short for plumbum, with the same root as "plumbing." Aristocratic Romans often had wine piped in through lead pipes. As wine soured it became bitter with acetic acid, which reacted with the lead to form lead tetraacetate, known as "sugar of lead" because it has a sweet taste. It made the wine sweeter and it made those drinking it go mad.
Twitter is to us what lead plumbing pipes were to the Roman Empire
I get the reference. Most don't.
The periodic table abbreviation for lead is Pb, short for plumbum, with the same root as "plumbing." Aristocratic Romans often had wine piped in through lead pipes. As wine soured it became bitter with acetic acid, which reacted with the lead to form lead tetraacetate, known as "sugar of lead" because it has a sweet taste. It made the wine sweeter and it made those drinking it go mad.
Oh, and stupid.