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基本説明
長年の間、ヒ素はヨーロッパ各国で広く梅毒、マラリア、水銀、潰瘍の治療薬として用いられ、水銀の飲用なども錬金術士の間ではよく行われてきた。本書はイギリスにおける毒物の使用と受容観念の歴史に焦点を当てる。
New in paperback. Hardcover was published in 2005. Gives detailed histories of five of the most toxic elements - arsenic, antimony, lead, mercury, and thallium, highlighting some of the most famous murders and how the murderers used the chemical properties of elements to hide what they were doing.
Full Description
This book is about elements that kill. Mercury, arsenic, antimony, lead, and thallium can be lethal, as many a poisoner knew too well. Emsley explores the gruesome history of these elements and those who have succumbed to them in a fascinating narrative that weaves together stories of true crime, enduring historical mysteries, tragic accidents, and the science behind it all. The colourful cast includes ancient alchemists, kings, leaders, a pope, several great musicians, and a motley crew of murderers. Among the intriguing accounts is that of the 17th century poet Sir Thomas Overbury, who survived four attempts to poison him with mercury but died when given the poison in enema form - under whose direction remains uncertain. Here, too, is detailed the celebrated case of Florence Maybrick, convicted of poisoning her violent husband James with arsenic, but widely believed at the time to be innocent. The question of her guilt is still disputed.
Threaded through the book alongside the history is the growing understanding of chemistry, and the effects of different chemical substances on the human body. Thousands suffered the ill effects of poisonous vapours from mercury, lead, and arsenic before the dangers were realized. Hatters went mad because of mercury poisoning, and hundreds of young girls working in factories manufacturing wallpaper in the 19th century were poisoned by the arsenic-based green pigments used for the leaves of the popular floral designs. Even in the middle of the 20th century, accidental mercury poisoning caused many deaths in Minamata Bay, while leaded petrol poisoned the whole planet, and arsenic still continues to poison millions is Asia.
Through vividly told stories of innocent blunders, industrial accidents, poisoners of various hues - cold, cunning, desperate - and deaths that remain a mystery, Emsley here uncovers the dark side of the Periodic Table.
Contents
1. Deadly elements ; 2. The history and the chemistry ; 3. One man's medicine is another man's murder weapon ; 4. Arsenic and adultry ; 5. Off the wall poison ; 6. Insidious antimony ; 7. Requiem for a metal ; 8. Deadly lead ; 9. When the Empire struck lead ; 10. Mercury in the Tower ; 11. Mad cats and mad hatters ; 12. Young and deadly ; 13. Driving you hairless ; Glossary
