Description
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.
Product ID: 9781776768622
Sku: 9781776768622
