Geography Cone Snail Fast facts:– Latin name is Conus geographus– One of most venomous creatures on Earth– It’s venom has analgesic properties– Toxin causes muscle paralysis, vision impairment and respiratory failure– Most toxic cone snail with more than 100 toxins– A few microlitres of toxin enough to kill 10 people– No anti-venom exists– 36 deaths…
Posts Tagged with poison
A to Z Challenge: F (poisons & stories of their use)
Foxglove Fast facts:– Latin name is Digitalsi lanata– Native to the Balkans– A naturalised, invasive species in the US and Canada– Contains a powerful cardiac glycoside called digitalin (or digoxin)– Used in heart medication– Adverse drug reactions common– Margin between effectiveness and toxicity narrow– Famously used in the Foxglove Murders and by Angel of Mercy…
A to Z Challenge: E (poisons & stories of their use)
Emetic tartar Fast facts:– Contains antimony, a naturally occurring metal– ‘Sb’ on the periodic table (atomic no.51)– Used to induce vomiting– Symptoms similar to arsenic– Kills in 30 minutes after ingestion– Has an acrid metallic taste– Can be detected during autopsy– Intentionally used to treat patients suffering from leishmaniasis– Used by serial killer George Chapman,…
A to Z Challenge: B (poisons & stories of their use)
Botulinum Fast facts: – The most toxic substance known – Produced by anaerobic bacteria – A form of food poisoning – Causes nerves to fail and paralysis – The botulinum toxin is abbreviated to Botox (yes, the one used in clinical treatment for wrinkles) – Used by Japanese doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo Clostridium botulinum is…
A to Z Challenge: A (poisons & stories of their use)
Arsenic Fast facts: – Naturally occurring heavy metal – ‘As’ on the periodic table (atomic no.33) – Tasteless and odourless – Untraceable in human body – Once the method of choice by poisoners – Marsh Test for detecting arsenic published in 1836 – Famous victims include Napoleon Bonaparte, George III of England and Simon Bolivar…