10 “Popular” Poisons

10 “Popular” Poisons
(1)Castor Bean
(2)Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade)
(3)Fiddleback Spider Venom
(4)Pufferfish Venom
(5)Heroin
(6)Hemlock
(6)Hemlock
(8)Arsenic
(9)Strychnine
(10)Cyanide

(1)Castor Bean

When you consider that castor oil is used as a food additive in candy and chocolate, it’s disconcerting to discover that the fruit of that plant, the castor bean contains a supertoxic level of the poison ricin.  As little as one bean, well chewed, could prove fatal.  However, according to figures from the American Association of Poison Control Centres (AAPC) only two Castor Bean fatalities were recorded in the period from 1999 to 2004.

(2)Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade)

With a name that means beautiful woman, an extract from the belladonna plant was used in Renaissance times as a beauty product.  Applied to the eyes it dilated the pupils and gave women a wide-eyed appearance.  This senseless and dangerous application of the poison often makes contemporary thinkers marvel at the stupidity of our ancestors.  Contemporary poisoning from belladonna usually occurs because some dimwit has discovered that the leaves purportedly have hallucinogenic qualities.  This almost makes the use of belladonna for pupil-dilation seem sensible.

VERDICT: The clue is in the name “deadly nightshade.”  Which part of “deadly” didn’t you understand?

(3)Fiddleback Spider Venom

At less than half an inch in length, the Fiddleback or Brown Recluse is one of the most venomous spiders in the world.  Native to twenty-five states (primarily southern and midwestern) the bite of the Fiddleback is usually painless but, after eight hours, the victim will be in agony.  Fatalities are now rare, thanks to advances in medical treatments.  However, with a bite that induces symptoms of vomiting, blisters, delirium and necrosis – this spider is best avoided.

 

 

(4)Pufferfish Venom

The poisonous part of the pufferfish is the tetraodontoxin found in its ovaries.  This poison is not destroyed by cooking although experts say, if the entrails are removed before cooking, the fish is usually harmless.  Used in the Japanese delicacy fugu, pufferfish can only be cooked and prepared by specially trained and licensed chefs.  Even so, from 1955 through 1975 there were more than 1,500 fatalities caused by eating improperly prepared fugu.