History
of poisons
the beginning
of poisons
The first historically recorded case of poisonings occurred in Rome in 331 BC. Noble patricians suddenly began to die. Initially, it was attributed to an epidemic, but later, due to the testimony of a slave girl, it became known that two patricians Cornelia and Sergia - were to blame.
The ladies had a whole set of various jars and vials. In an attempt to convince the Senate that these were medicines, the suspects ingested the contents of the vials and died.
R.I.P.
THE BEGINNING OF POISONING
the title "poison of poisons"
the beginning of the end
or aconite.
of deadly nightshade, hemlock
The decoction
The custom of clinking wine cups also originates from those places and times - wine was poured from one cup to another. This showed that there was no poison in the wine.
Rome,
331 BC
Ancient Rome can be considered one of the cradles of poisoning
During the
bloody feuds
and civil wars
it was possible to
obtain from the authorities
and, in case of a valid reason,
it became customary,
Poisonings
acquired such
that tasters
formed a special guild,
like other
craftsmen.
they unite
mass character,
In Europe, arsenic quickly displaced plant poisons. In the Middle Ages, the properties of white arsenic were already well known and characterized by the words: If anyone eats even a pea of this substance or even less, they will perish. There are no methods of treatment.
title
"poison of poisons"
as203
so different that in ancient times it was confused with various diseases,
up to venereal ones.
— the picture of poisoning can be
With periodic
or prolonged use of small doses
it affects the nervous system, blood, and causes diseases of the mucous membranes and skin.
tract
This is not surprising,
besides
gastrointestinal
as arsenic
Arsenic oxide
white
arsenic (As2O3)
is as
suitable
for crimes: when dissolved in water and common liquids, it gives no color or smell.
Symptoms
of the disease
cholera.
with signs
similar
to poisoning
Because
illnesses.
can resemble
various
poisoning
of the end
the beginning
The foundations of forensic toxicology were laid in France and is associated with the name of Matthieu Joseph Bonaventure Orfila.
At the age of 26, he published the first book on toxicology and analytical chemistry
Ancient Rome
to the beginning of
the 19th century
From
In 1811, Orfila moved to Paris,
organized a laboratory at his home,
where he engaged in
most interested in
arsenic.
studying the effects
of poisons on animals,
The discovery of methods
for isolating arsenic from bodies
revived interest in plant poisons.
in attempts
to interpret postmortem
Even experienced
remained.
many prejudices
and superstitions
to identify poisoning,
doctors tried
changes as signs
of poisoning.
studied chemistry and medicine
in Valencia, Barcelona,
studied the works
Lavoisier
in Bertol.
independently
Orfila was born in 1787
on the island of Minorca (Spain),
Project author:
Kira Shabanova
kirash.me
Non-commercial project created as part of an educational course. All materials belong to their respective owners
1803
The first discoveries were made by Sertürner, who isolated morphine from opium
1818
Couvant and Pelletier discovered strychnine in the vomit nut
1820
Desosse found quinine in cinchona bark, and Runge found caffeine in coffee
1828
Possel and Reiman isolated nicotine from tobacco
made it possible to solve
the difficult task
thanks to advances in physics.
poisons
of identifying organic
20th century
Only the
a significantly smaller role
Today, toxicology plays
than it did
in the past.