Yep - until about 1888 aluminium was so tough to extract (despite it being the most common metal) that it was used for jewelry and cost more than gold. That's why an aluminum crutch would have been an eye-opener in Holmes' time. (I remember seeing a picture in one of my science books in school of an aluminum rattle made for Napoleon's son.)
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2015-06-08 12:19 am (UTC)