A Poisoner's Book
May 25, 2019 8:33 PM   Subscribe

For all your sneaky poisoning needs: "A curious late 19th century concoction, using an inconspicuous mid-17th-century volume of theology in a slightly later binding to conceal a miniature chest of drawers with space for four bottles measuring up to ca. 10 cms. The German-language drawer labels bear the names of poisonous plants: banewort, Devil's snare, hemlock, wormwood, henbane and foxglove, among others. The pastedown bears a large memento-mori illustration with a Latin quote from the Epistle to the Hebrews (9:27): "Statutum est hominibus semel mori" ("All men are destined to die once")."
posted by Eyebrows McGee (8 comments total) 23 users marked this as a favorite
 
I've got comfrey and pennyroyal, potatoes and tomatoes (leaves are toxic) I've had rue- and I can put it in again, and I'm thinking of growing rhubarb. (everything but the stalk'll kill you.) I just tore out my sorrel (oxalic acid). Someone needs to get me this.
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 8:59 PM on May 25, 2019 [5 favorites]


Seems like something Flavia de Luce would have.
posted by MtDewd at 3:17 AM on May 26, 2019 [1 favorite]


19th century mall ninja.
posted by Leon at 4:09 AM on May 26, 2019 [7 favorites]


Just the once?
posted by cabbage raccoon at 4:29 AM on May 26, 2019


Just the once?

Unless they are a coward; then they die 1000 times.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:46 AM on May 26, 2019 [4 favorites]


rhubarb. (everything but the stalk'll kill you.)

Definietly toxic, but not usually (or do I mean reliably?) fatal:
Severity is determined by Patient's age, weight, and condition; Variety of rhubarb; Time it was swallowed before treatment; and Amount swallowed.

Serious poisonings can result in kidney failure. Deaths have been reported, but are rare.

[Source]
posted by Quinbus Flestrin at 9:46 AM on May 26, 2019 [2 favorites]


(rifles through the sofa cushions for about $11k in change)
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 1:13 PM on May 26, 2019


rhubarb. (everything but the stalk'll kill you.)

Well that gives an entirely new context to the line "Yes, nothing gets the taste of shame and humiliation out of your mouth quite like Bebop-A-Reebop Rhubarb Pie."
posted by happyroach at 1:36 PM on May 26, 2019 [2 favorites]


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