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IN THE NECESSARY TOIL
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SUFFERING OF THIS LIFE
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Prepared only by J. C. ENO, Ltd., 'FRUIT SALT' WORKS, LONDON, S.E., by
J. C. ENO'S Patent.
POISON ROMANCE AND POISON MYSTERIES
POISON ROMANCE AND POISON MYSTERIES
BY
C. J. S. THOMPSON.
=St. James' Gazette=:--"There is indeed no more fascinating reading
... very pleasant and readable.... It is full of good reading,
with some rather creepy and _saugrenu_ dippings into the past."
=Daily Chronicle=:--"Poison is always a fascinating subject. There
is something subtle and mystic about the very word. On this
attractive theme Mr. THOMPSON has collected a great deal of
information from ancient and modern alike."
=Daily Mail=:--"People who are fond of prying into the gruesome
subject of toxicology will find some interesting chapters in Mr.
C. J. S. THOMPSON'S book."
=The Athenæum=:--"Decidedly sensible and well informed."
=Literature=:--"Mr. THOMPSON writes a sprightly chapter on
toxicology in fiction."
=The Saturday Review=:--"A great deal of curious information
concerning the history of poisons and poisonings."
=Illustrated London News=:--"The story portions will attract most
attention, and the poisoned gloves and rings of old romance
supply satisfaction to that sensational instinct which is absent
in hardly one of us."
=The Queen=:--"Will fascinate most people. Is very readably
written. Its only fault is that it is too short."
=Liverpool Courier=:--"It is a readable book as well as an able
one. The author is an eminent toxicologist and writes pleasantly
on the lore connected with the science."
=The Scotsman=:--"It is successful and interesting. Full of odd and
startling information."
=Manchester Courier=:--"The book is extremely interesting and
particularly valuable."
=Aberdeen Free Press=:--"Fascinates the majority of his readers.
One could wish that Mr. THOMPSON had written much more."
=Glasgow Citizen=:--"A book of the week."
=Glasgow Herald=:--"Light and eminently readable."
+An edition of this book in cloth boards, price 2_s._ 6_d._, is
published by The Scientific Press Ltd., 28 & 29, Southampton Street,
Strand, London, W.C.+
POISON ROMANCE AND POISON MYSTERIES
BY
C. J. S. THOMPSON, F.R.HIST.S.
AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY AND ROMANCE OF ALCHEMY AND PHARMACY" "THE
CHEMIST'S COMPENDIUM" "A MANUAL OF PERSONAL HYGIENE" "PHARMACY AND
DISPENSING" ETC. ETC.
[Illustration]
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PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION
IN response to the wishes of many who read this work when it appeared
in serial form, it is now reproduced with much additional matter,
which I hope may prove of value to those interested in the fascinating
subject of poisons and the study of toxicology. It has been my
endeavour to collect, in the following pages, the scattered fragments
of historic and romantic lore connected with poisons from the earliest
period, and to recount the stories of some notable "poison mysteries"
of ancient and modern times. I am indebted to the works of Dr. Wynter
Blyth for many facts concerning the poisons of antiquity.
C. J. S. T.
1899
PREFACE TO NEW EDITION
IN presenting a new edition of this work to my readers, the opportunity
has been taken to introduce several new chapters, one of which deals
with the "poison mystery" which recently aroused such widespread
interest in the United States. In response to suggestions, detailed
accounts of the "Horsford case" and the "Lambeth poison mysteries" have
also been added.
C. J. S. T.
CONTENTS
CHAP. PAGE
I POISONS OF ANTIQUITY 11
II POISONS AND SUPERSTITION 21
III ROYAL AND HISTORIC POISONERS 26
IV PROFESSIONAL POISONERS 34
V POISONING PLOTS 43
VI CONCERNING ARSENIC 45
VII THE STRANGE CASE OF MADAME LAFARGE 49
VIII THE CASE OF MADELINE SMITH 53
IX THE MAYBRICK CASE 55
X ABOUT ACONITE AND HEMLOCK 60
XI THE CASE OF DR. LAMSON 63
XII THE BRAVO MYSTERY 65
XIII THE CASE OF DR. PRITCHARD 70
XIV THE PIMLICO MYSTERY 75
XV THE RUGELEY MYSTERY 80
XVI OPIUM EATING AND SMOKING--MESCAL BUTTONS 85
XVII HASHISH AND HASHISH EATERS 90
XVIII TOBACCO LORE 95
XIX POISON HABITS 99
XX POISONS IN FICTION 103
XXI THE LAMBETH POISON MYSTERIES 110
XXII THE HORSFORD CASE 114
XXIII THE GREAT AMERICAN POISON MYSTERY 117
XXIV SOME CURIOUS METHODS EMPLOYED BY SECRET POISONERS 121
POISON ROMANCE AND POISON MYSTERIES
CHAPTER I
POISONS OF ANTIQUITY
LONG before the action of vegetable and mineral substances on human
beings and animals was known, it is probable that poisonous bodies in
some form were used by primitive man.
When injured in battle by perhaps a flint arrow-head, or stone axe, he
sought for something to revenge himself on his enemy. In his search
after curative remedies he also found noxious ones, which produced
unpleasant effects when applied to the point of a weapon destined to
enter the internal economy of an opponent.
He doubtless also became aware that the spear-points and arrow-heads on
which the blood of former victims had dried, caused wounds that rapidly
proved fatal, owing to the action of what we now call septic poisons.
This probably led to experiments with the juices of plants, until
something of a more deadly character was discovered.
This was the very earliest age of poisoning, when pharmacy was employed
for vicious or revengeful purposes.
Thus we find that almost every savage nation and people has its own
peculiar poison. In Africa the seeds of _Strophanthus hispidus_,
or kombé, a most virulent poison, are used for this purpose; while
explorers tell us that the ancient pigmy race of Central Africa employ
a species of red ant crushed to a paste, to tip their arrows and
spears. The South American Indians poison their arrow-heads with curare
or ourari, produced from a species of _strychnos_ and other plants,
while the Malays and hill tribes of India use aconite, and other
poisonous juices and extracts. The _Antiaris toxicaria_ is also used as
an arrow poison by the Malays.
The bushmen of the South African district "Kalahari," use the juice
of the leaf beetle "diamphidia" and its larva for poisoning their
arrow-heads. Lewin, who calls the beetle _Diamphidia simplex_, found
in its body, besides inert fatty acids, a toxalbumin which causes
paralysis, and finally death. According to Boehm, the poison from
the larva also belongs to the toxalbumins, and Starke states, that
it causes the dissolution of the colouring matter of the blood and
produces inflammation.
A halo of mystery, sometimes intermixed with romance, has hung about
the dread word _poison_ from very early times. In the dark days of
mythology, allusions to mysterious poisons were made in legend and
saga. Thus a country in the Far North was supposed to be ruled and
dominated by sorcerers and kindred beings, all of whom were said to
be children of the Sun. Here dwelt Æëtes, Perses, Hecate, Medea,
and Circe. Hecate was the daughter of Perses and married to Æëtes,
and their daughters were Medea and Circe. Æëtes and Perses were
said to be brothers, and their country was afterwards supposed to
be Colchis. To Hecate is ascribed the foundation of sorcery and the
discovery of poisonous herbs. Her knowledge of magic and spells was
supposed to be unequalled. She transmitted her power to Medea, whose
wonderful exploits have been frequently described and depicted, and
who by her magic arts subdued the dragon that guarded the golden
fleece, and assisted Jason to perform his famous deeds. Hecate's
garden is described by the poets as being enclosed in lofty walls with
thrice-folding doors of ebony, which were guarded by terrible forms,
and only those who bore the leavened rod of expiation and the concealed
conciliatory offering could enter. Towering above was the temple of
the dread sorceress, where the ghastly sacrifices were offered and all
kinds of horrible spells worked.
Medea was also learned in sorcery and an accomplished magician. It is
related that, after her adventures with Jason, she returned with him to
Thessaly. On their arrival they found Æson, the father of Jason, and
Pelias, his uncle, who had usurped the throne, both old and decrepit.
Medea was requested to exert her magical powers to make the old man
young again, an operation she is said to have speedily performed by
infusing the juice of certain potent plants into his veins.
Some years after, Medea deserted Jason and fled to Athens, and shortly
afterwards married Ægeus, king of that city. Ægeus had a son by a
former wife, named Theseus, who had been brought up in exile. At length
he resolved to return and claim his parentage, but Medea hearing of
this, and for some reason greatly resenting it, put a poisoned goblet
into the hands of Ægeus at an entertainment he gave to Theseus, with
the intent that he should hand it to his son. At the critical moment,
however, the king cast his eyes on the sword of Theseus, and at once
recognized it as that which he had delivered to his son when a child,
and had directed that it should be brought by him when a man, as a
token of the mystery of his birth. The goblet was at once thrown away,
the father embraced his son, and Medea fled from Athens in a chariot
drawn by dragons through the air.
Circe's charms were of a more seductive and romantic character. She is
said to have been endowed with exquisite beauty, which she employed
to allure travellers to her territory. On their landing, she entreated
and enticed them to drink from her enchanted cup. But no sooner was
the draught swallowed, than the unfortunate stranger was turned into a
hog, and driven by the magician to her sty, where he still retained the
consciousness of what he had been, and lived to repent his folly.
Gula, the patroness of medicine and a divinity of the Accadians, was
regarded by that ancient people as "the mistress and controller of
noxious poisons" as far back as 5000 years B.C.
According to some authorities, the Hebrew word _Chasaph_, translated in
the Old Testament Scriptures as witch, meant poisoner. Scott states the
witches of Scripture had probably some resemblance to those of ancient
Europe, who, although their skill and power might be safely despised as
long as they confined themselves to their charms and spells, were very
apt to eke out their capacity for mischief by the use of actual poison;
so that the epithet of sorceress and poisoner were almost synonymous.
The oldest Egyptian king, Menes, and Attalus Phylometer, the last king
of Pergamus, were both learned in the knowledge of the properties
of plants. The latter monarch also knew something of their medicinal
uses, and was acquainted with henbane, aconite, hemlock, hellebore,
etc. Other Egyptian rulers cultivated the art of medicine, and there
is little doubt that, probably through the priests, who were the chief
practitioners of the art of healing, they gathered a considerable
knowledge of the properties of many poisonous and other herbs. Prussic
acid was known to the Egyptians, and prepared by them in a diluted
form, from the peach and other plants. It is highly probable, indeed,
that the priests had some rudimentary knowledge of the process of
distillation, and prepared this deadly liquid from peach leaves or
stones, by that method. The "penalty of the peach" is alluded to in a
papyrus now preserved in the Louvre, which points to the liquid being
used as a death draught.
The ancient Greeks, like the Chinese of to-day, looked upon suicide,
under certain conditions, as a noble act, for which poison was the
usual medium. Their "death cup" was mainly composed of the juice or
extract of a species of hemlock, called by them cicuta. The Chinese,
from remote times, are supposed to have used gold as a poison,
especially for suicidal purposes, and at the present day, when a high
official or other individual puts an end to his life, it is always
officially announced, "He has taken gold leaf"; a curious phrase, which
probably has its origin in antiquity.
Nicander, of Colophon, a Greek physician, who lived 204-138 B.C., in
his work on "Poisons and their Antidotes," the earliest on the subject
known, describes the effects of snake venom and the properties of
opium, henbane, colchicum, cantharides, hemlock, aconite, toxicum
(probably the venom of the toad), buprestis, the salamander, the
sea-hare, the leech, yew (decomposed), bull's blood, milk, and certain
fungi, which he terms "evil fermentations of the earth"; and as
antidotes for the same he mentions lukewarm oil, warm water, and mallow
or linseed tea to excite vomiting. The same writer also made a rough
classification of the poisons known in his time, twenty-two in all, and
divided them into two classes--viz., "those which killed quickly," and
"those which killed slowly."
Of the minerals, arsenic, antimony, mercury, gold, silver, copper,
and lead were used by the Greeks; the antidote recommended in case
of poisoning being hot oil, and other methods to induce vomiting and
prevent the poison being absorbed into the system.
Bull's blood is classed as a poison by various ancient writers,
and it is recorded that Æson, Midas King of Phrygia, Plutarch, and
Themistocles, killed themselves by drinking bull's blood. It is
probable that some strong poisonous vegetable substance, such as
cicuta, was mixed with the blood.
Dioscorides throws a further light on the poisons of antiquity in
his great work on Materia Medica, which for fifteen centuries or
more remained the chief authority on that subject. He mentions
cantharides, copper, mercury, lead, and arsenic. Among the animal
poisons are included toads, salamanders, poisonous snakes, a peculiar
kind of honey, and the blood of the ox, probably after it had turned
putrid. The sea-hare is frequently alluded to by the ancient Greeks,
and was evidently regarded by them as capable of producing a very
powerful poison. Domitian is said to have administered it to Titus.
It is supposed to have been one of the genus _Aplysia_, among the
gasteropods, and is described by the old writers as a dreadful object,
which was neither to be touched nor looked upon with safety.
Among the poisonous plants enumerated by Dioscorides are the poppy,
black and white hellebore, henbane, mandragora, hemlock, elaterin, and
the juices of species of euphorbia, and apocyneæ. Medea is said to have
been the first to introduce colchicum. The black and white hellebore
were known to the Romans, and used by them as an insecticide, and
Pliny states that the Gauls used a preparation of veratrum to poison
their arrows. Arsenic was employed by the Greeks as a caustic, and for
removing hair from the face; while copper, mercury, and lead were used
in their medical treatment. The study of poisons was forbidden for a
long period, and Galen mentions the fact that only a few philosophers
dared treat the subjects in their works.
In the East, poisons have been used from remote times, not only for the
destruction of human life, but also for destroying animals--arsenic,
aconite, and opium being employed by the Asiatics for these purposes.
The Hindoos have many strange traditions concerning poisons, some being
attributed with the property of causing a lingering death, which can
be controlled by the will of the poisoner. But this is doubtless more
legendary than correct. One curious and mysterious substance mentioned
by Blyth, and known in India as _Mucor phycomyces_, is stated to be
a species of fungi. When the spores are administered in warm water
they are said to attach themselves to the throat and rapidly develop
and grow, with the result that in a few weeks, all the symptoms of
consumption develop, and the victim is rapidly carried off by that
fatal disease.
The early Hebrews were also acquainted with certain poisons, the words,
"rosch" and "chema" being used by them as generic terms. Arsenic was
known to them as "sam," aconite as "boschka," and ergot probably as
"son."
The ancients attributed poisonous properties to certain bodies simply
on account of their origin being mysterious and obscure, and many of
these errors and traditions have been handed down for centuries. As
an instance of this, the belief that diamond dust possessed deadly
poisonous properties seems to have existed until recent times. Many
mysterious deaths in the Middle Ages were attributed to it. There is
little doubt that death might be caused by the mere mechanical effect
of an insoluble powder of this kind, if it were possible to introduce
it into the stomach in sufficient quantity, but powdered glass or sand
would have the same effect as diamond dust, viz. in causing violent
irritation of the stomach. Yet some of these old traditions have a
substratum of fact.
The poisonous properties of the toad have long been regarded as
fabulous, but recent investigation has proved that the skin of a
species of toad secretes a poison, similar in action to digitalis.
The venom of the toad has had the reputation of possessing poisonous
properties from a very early period, and was probably one of the
earliest forms of animal poison known.
The old tradition, that King John was poisoned by a Friar who dropped a
toad into his wine, was regarded as a ridiculous fable until some years
ago, when it was discovered that the skin of the toad secretes a body,
the active principle of which, "phrynin," is a poison of considerable
power.
One of the most curious uses to which the toad has been put is recorded
on a medical diploma now in the Library of Ferrara, which was granted
to one Generoso Marini in 1642. Marini having made application for a
Ferrarese diploma in medicine, the judges in whom the power of granting
such degrees was invested, ordered him to exhibit some efficient proofs
of his capability to practise the medical art.
Marini at once agreed to comply with their demand, and the result is
recorded in his diploma, which was discovered by Cittadella in the
archives of Ferrara, and is translated as follows:--
"Having publicly examined and approved the science and knowledge
of medicine of Signor Generoso Marini, and his possession of the
wonderful secret called 'Orvietano,' which he exhibited on the stage
built in the centre of this our city of Ferrara, in presence of its
entire population so remarkable for their civilization and learning,
and in presence of many foreigners and other classes of people, we
hereby certify that, also in our presence, as well as that of the
city authorities, he took several living toads, not those of his own
providing, but from a great number of toads which had been caught in
fields in the locality by persons who were strangers to him, and which
were only handed to him at the moment of making the experiment. An
officer of the court then selected from the number of toads collected,
five of the largest, which the said Generoso Marini placed on a bench
before him, and in presence of all assembled spectators, he, with a
large knife, cut all the said toads in half. Then, taking a drinking
cup, he took in each hand one half of a dead toad, and squeezed from
it all the juices and fluids it contained into the cup, and the
same he did with the remainder. After mixing the contents together,
he swallowed the whole, and then placing the cup on the bench he
advanced to the edge of the stage, where for some minutes he remained
stationary. Then he became pale as death and his limbs trembled, and
his body began to swell in a frightful and terrible manner; and all the
spectators began to believe that he would never recover from the poison
he had swallowed, and that his death was certain. Suddenly, taking
from a jar by his side some of his celebrated 'Orvietano,' he placed a
portion of it in his mouth and swallowed it. Instantly, the effect of
this wonderful medicine was to make him vomit the poison he had taken,
and he stood before the spectators in the full enjoyment of health.[1]
"The populace applauded him highly for the indisputable proof he had
given of his talent, and he then invited many of the most learned of
those present to accompany him to his house, and he there showed them
his dispensary as well as his collection of antidotes, and among them
a powder made from little vipers, a powerful remedy for curing every
sort of fever, as he had proved by different experiments he had made
on people of quality and virtue, all of whom he had cured of the fever
from which they were suffering, etc.
"In consequence of the rare talent exhibited by Signor Generoso Marini,
and as a proof of our love and respect for his wisdom, we have resolved
by the authority placed in our hands publicly to reward him with a
diploma, so that he may be universally recognized, applauded, and
respected. In witness thereof we have set our hands and the public seal
of the municipality of Ferrara.
"Data in Ferrara con grandissimo applauso il di 26 Luglio, 1642.
"JOANNES CAJETANUS MODONI,
"_Index sapientum Civitatis Ferrari_.
"FRANCISCUS ALTRAMARI,
"_Cancellarius_."
But although the toad under certain conditions was credited with
poisonous properties, during the Middle Ages it was esteemed a valuable
remedy for the plague, and was employed for that purpose in Austria as
late as the year 1712.
Cantharides, or Spanish fly, was very commonly used as a poison in
mediæval times, the usual method of administering being to chop it
up and mix it with pepper. It is said to have been the first poison
tried on the unfortunate Sir Thomas Overbury, although his murderers
finally finished him off with corrosive sublimate. Poisoned rings are
said to have been the invention of the Italians, who fashioned rings
in which the poison was inserted in a receptacle where the jewel is
usually set. Attached to the inner part of the ring was a sharp point
which, when the hand of the wearer was grasped, scratched the flesh and
injected the poison. Rings were also used for carrying strong poisons
secretly--such as arsenic, or corrosive sublimate--and in this manner
many were enabled to commit suicide after being imprisoned.
Hyoscyamus, commonly called henbane, is a herb which has been employed
from remote times. Benedictus Crispus, Archbishop of Milan, in a work
written shortly before A.D. 681, alludes to it under the name of
hyoscyamus and symphoniaca, and in the tenth century its virtues are
particularly recorded by Macer Floridus. In the early Anglo-Saxon works
it is called henbell and sometimes belene. In a French herbal of the
fifteenth century it is called hanibane or hanebane. From a very early
period it has been employed as a sedative and anodyne, for producing
sleep, although simple hallucinations sometimes accompany its use.
An old tradition states, that once in the refectory of an ancient
monastery the monks were served with henbane, instead of some harmless
root, in error by the cook. After partaking of the dish, they were
seized with the most extraordinary hallucinations. At midnight one
monk sounded the bell for matins, while others walked in the chapel
and opened their books, but could not read. Others sang roystering
drinking songs and performed mountebank antics, which convulsed the
others with uncontrollable laughter, and the pious monastery for the
nonce was turned into an asylum. Certain stones which were sold for
large sums of money were supposed to change colour when brought near a
poisonous substance, and they were consequently much sought after by
high personages. The horn of the unicorn was said to become moist when
placed near poisoned food. Bickman records his belief that several slow
poisons were known to the ancients which cannot now be identified. The
Carthaginians also seem to have been acquainted with similar poisons,
and, according to tradition, administered some to Regulus, the Roman
general. But we cannot endorse Bickman's belief.
An incident which happened to the army led by Mark Antony against
the Parthians, and described by Plutarch, is said to have been caused
by aconite. At one time during the expedition, "the soldiers being
very short of provisions, sought for roots and pot-herbs ... and met
one that brought on madness and death. The eater immediately lost
all memory and knowledge, busying himself at the same time in turning
and moving every stone he met with, as if he were on some important
pursuit. The camp was full of unhappy men stooping to the ground, and
digging up and removing stones, till at last they were carried off by
bilious vomiting.... Whole numbers perished, and the Parthians still
continued to harass them. Antony is said to have frequently exclaimed:
'Oh! the ten thousand!' alluding to the army which Xenophon led in
retreat; both a longer way and through more numerous conflicts, and yet
led in safety."
Nine active or virulent poisons are mentioned by most ancient writers
on Indian medicine, many of which are at present not identified. Most
of them are apparently varieties of aconite. Besides these, they
employed opium, gunja, datura, roots of _Nerium odorum_ and _Gloriosa
superba_, the milky juices of _Calotropis gigantea_ and _Euphorbia
neriifolia_, white arsenic, orpiment, and the poison extracted from the
fangs of serpents.
Most of the older Sanscrit MSS. are written on paper prepared with
orpiment to preserve them from the ravages of insects. Three varieties
of _Datura_ yield atropine, a powerful poison. These plants were
frequently employed in India for putting a sudden end to domestic
quarrels, and to this practice may be traced the origin of the custom
of "Suttee," or widow burning, as the Brahmins found from experience
that, by making a wife's life conterminous with the husband's the
average husband lived considerably longer.
It is worthy of note that the diamond was celebrated as a medicinal
agent by the Hindoos, who prepared it by roasting seven times and then
reducing it to powder. It was given in doses of one grain as a powerful
tonic.
[1] The celebrated "Orvietano" was doubtless some preparation of
antimony.