In
earlier time poisoning was a very common way to commit murder by both men and
women, though probably more often by women. Then as time moved on it became
mainly a woman’s murder weapon. But now, with such advances in technology,
weapons, and the advancement of women in this modern world, it is rather rare
to see poisoning as a murder weapon. We do see ricin used by terrorist/mentally
ill to send via mail, but it is not your everyday poison.
However, we, as writers, can still
use poisons as a murder weapon, especially if we can come up with a unique
murder plot. It never hurts to have the information on hand just in case. Also,
those of you who like to write mysteries set in Victorian days or even into the
early 1900, it would be most appropriate to use a poison. Five poisons you
might want to keep in mind are as follows:
1.
Arsenic -- used since the Roman times in ancient history. It is
tasteless, making it easily administered in a drink. In the 1800’s it was put
in weed killer, fly papers, and rat poisons. It was used frequently in domestic
murders and cited in many murder cases. Used as a yellow oxide or a white oxide
or vapor, which smells of garlic. White oxide is virtually tasteless and easily
masked by food or drink. It can be given accumulatively. The fatal dose builds
up over time slowly. Symptoms can resemble food poisoning. The symptoms of
white oxide starts with throat irritation, nausea, faintness, and depression.
Then you have vomiting, tinged with blood and mucus, severe abdominal pain
exacerbated by touch tongue is white and furry, throat is constricted. Diarrhea
comes after 12-18 hours, cramps in leg, weak pulse, rapid but regular. Cyanosis
(blue color) of extremities. Death comes when victim is conscious.
2. Strychnine -- Used to poison rats
and other small animals, giving it easy accessibility. It has been cited in
only a few domestic murders, and its availability suggests it could be used in
many undiscovered murders. It is a colorless solution with a very bitter taste
that is noticeable even in a very weak solution. Symptoms come on within 2-3
hours, sometimes faster. The symptoms are: restlessness, feeling of
suffocation, contraction of facial muscles (victim looks as if he is grinning),
violent and distorting contractions followed by a period of rest, then an
attack of even more violent contractions. The victim is conscious, in agony and
unable to speak. Pulse is very high, and death occurs during a convulsion from
paralysis of the respiratory system.
3. Atropine -- (aka belladonna) In
small doses it causes hallucinations. It has been used since ancient Greece. In
larger doses it was one of the favorite poisons of would-be murderers in
medieval Europe. The juice of only a few berries would be fatal. It can be
absorbed through the skin as well as ingested. Symptoms are dry mouth and
tongue, difficulty swallowing, flushed skin leading to rash on upper body,
headache, giddiness, hallucinations, delirium, fast respiration and pulse,
dilated pupils (most distinctive feature as the victim appears to have black
eyes). Later there is paralysis, coma, and then death.
4.
Cyanide -- Sodium cyanide is used in industrial chemicals and in mining.
It has been used in mass murders, the 1980’s contamination of Tylenol capsules
in the Chicago area being one of the most famous. It has been used in some
domestic murders also. It causes death within minutes and is the fastest acting
of all poisons. For this reason, it is the poison of suicide pills, such as the
type carried by secret agents. It has also been used in executions. Cyanide (or
Prussic Acid) interferes with the blood’s ability to absorb oxygen and has a
faint smell of bitter almonds, though less than mystery writers indicate in
their writings.
5.
Thallium -- discovered in the 1860’s, it has been used in some domestic
murders. In some countries it is used in rat poison, but it has been more
widely used in assassinations. It is water soluble and tasteless. It takes
several days for symptoms to develop and are generally attributed to other
illnesses. This poison was used by Sadam Hussein and Russia’s KGB. Symptoms can
easily be confused with the flu. The most distinctive symptom is hair loss.
These five are only a few of the
poisons out there. The list is long. A writer can be quite creative with these
resources at their hands.
Faye
M. Tollison
Author
of: To Tell the Truth
Upcoming
books: The Bible Murders
Sarah’s Secret
Member
of: Sisters In Crime
Writers on the Move
