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ANTIMONY
ARSENIC
phosphorous
THALLIUM
ANTIMONY
Name,
Antimony, tartar emetic, stibium.
Form, Antimony is a
silvery-white, soft metal that will not dissolve in water.
Tartar Emetic is a white powder - often hidden in food, but has
a slight bitter taste. As a gas Antimony can be called stibine,
a colorless and odorless gas that is released when antimony
comes into contact with acid. Lots of chemicals and common items
contain antimony, such as foil, batteries, glass enamels,
explosives and matches. Antimony is also found in Ant-paste,
which is where many Victorians found their poison. Antimony is
an element on the periodic table.
Effects, Typically this
poison is a skin irritant. Lesions causing extreme itching
appear on exposed moist areas of the body, not often on the
face. Clinically poisoning is similar to arsenic poisoning,
typically diagnosis was that of gastric fever as the symptoms
include fever, nausea, vomiting, dehydration and bad diarrhea
often containing blood. Slow and shallow respiration, pulmonary
congestion, coma, and often death due to circulatory and
reparatory failure. The autopsy may show liver damage and damage
to other areas of the gastrointestinal tract.
Reaction time, Can be 30
minutes to several hours depending on the dose.
Treatment, Similar to
arsenic poisoning, the stomach needs to be pumped, and a
formular called dimercaprol is given , this nees to be done
within 1 - 2 hours so as to neutralize the poison.
Famous cases,
George Chapman
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ARSENIC
Name,
Arsenic, White Arsenic, Black Arsenic, Metallic Arsenic, Arsenic
Trioxide, arsenous oxide, arsenic trihydride.
Form,
In its pure state a grey metal. Most often found as arsenic
trioxide - a white powder. I Murder cases it is usually
swallowed. Can also be inhaled as dust or gas.
Effects,
Not completely agreed upon in the scientific community, but, it
is believed that arsenic interferes with certain enzymes and
chemicals in the body. Side effects can include jaundice type
skin. After long periods of ingestion victims can display flaky
skin. Arsenic is believes to be a carcinogenic, thus possibly
causing skin cancer.
The most common effect of arsenic poisoning is extreme stomach
pain and cramp, in fact in Victorian England doctors would often
diagnose arsenic poisoning as gastric fever, normally it was to
late for the victim by the time they established the true cause.
Other symptoms include throat burning and pain, vomiting and
diarrhea with blood. Skin can become cold and clammy and the
victims blood pressure falls dramatically, causing the person to
become dizzy and weak. Convulsions and coma usually follow,
death finally resulting from circulatory problems.
In cases of slow poisoning the signs are jaundiced skin,
weakness and restlessness, headache and dizzy spells, with
occasional spells of paralysis. Because of the structure of
arsenic as an element, traces can be found in the hair,
fingernails and urine, red blood cells are destroyed, thus
causing the jaundiced look.
In extreme & Chronic arsenic poisoning the victim can experience
burring in the hands and feet, a numbing sensation through the
whole body, hair loss, skin irritation nausea, vomiting cramps,
weight loss, visual disturbance and finally cardiac failure.
Reaction time,
Normally within half an hour of the ingestion, death will occur
in as little as a few hours, or, in the case of slow poisoning
over a prolonged period, can take several weeks.
Treatment,
The first course of action, if the doctor knows that it is
arsenic poisoning, is to pump the stomach. The victim will then
be given medication to bind the arsenic, and probably penicillin
to clear any infections. The doctor will also need to treat the
side effects of the arsenic, such as any shock, cardiac and
blood related problems., as well as any kidney damage, which
could result in kidney dialysis. Milk is often given to
penitents as it acts a a binder in the stomach for arsenic and
other metal derivatives.
Famous cases,
Although more easily detected these days, many murderers still
use arsenic as a poison. Forensic tests on samples from the hair
of Napoleon have shown traces of arsenic.
Marry Ann Cotton
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phosphorous
THALLIUM
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