What happened to folk in times past? If they were low- functioning and poor they were considered incompetent, lazy and feckless, and starved. If they were high functioning, they got by, sort of, like we do now. If their families were rich, they were considered a bit odd and found a job as a vicar.

As for mercury etc. note thet there's no evidence of an "epidemic" of either autism or Asperger's: but there is of an increased rate of diagnosis (or perhaps labelling). Whereas in the past, parents would do anything to avoid such a diagnosis, now they are practically demanding it.

Try a hymn:

    Aspergers me, Domine, hyssopo, et mundabor:
    
Lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.
    
Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.
    
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
    Sicut erat in principio,
et nunc, et semper,
    et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Or try Aspergers Soup:

Prepare the Aspergers by cutting away and discarding the tough, stringy white ends, reserve 12 Aspergers tips to garnish the soup, then chop the green parts of the rest of the Aspergers into 1 inch (2.5 cm) lengths.

Next, melt the buggers in a large saucepan over a gentle heat and cook the chopped onion in it for 5 minutes, keeping the heat low to prevent the onion colouring. Stir the aspergers into the melted bugger and onion, then put a lid on and let them sweat for about 10 minutes, giving them a stir now and then.

Sprinkle in the tablespoon of flour, stir again to soak up the juices and add the hot chicken stock, a little at a time, stirring after each addition.