Arsenic: A History of Poison and Power

Mithridates and Poison Tolerance

• In 120 BCE, Mithridates' father, the ruler of Pontus, was poisoned.
• Mithridates feared poisoning from his mother and hid to build tolerance to poison through micro-dosing.
• He lived into his 70s and chose to die by the sword to evade capture.

Arsenic: The "King of Poisons"

• Arsenic is a widely distributed metallic element.
• In its pure form, it's not easily absorbed by the human body.
• Danger arises when arsenic combines with oxygen to form white arsenic, which mimics phosphates critical to cellular functions.

Historical Use of Arsenic

• Symptoms of arsenic poisoning often mimic common illnesses, making it a choice for murder.
• In ancient Egypt and Greece, arsenic was known from mining and smelting activities.
• Jabir ibn Hayyan, an 8th-century alchemist, prepared the first known white arsenic.

Arsenic in the Renaissance and Beyond

• It was popular in Renaissance Italy, where elites used it for assassination.
• The House of Borgia famously used an arsenic-laced powder called Cantarella.
• In 1675, the Affair of the Poisons scandalized French society with tales of widespread poison marketing.

Arsenic During the Industrial Revolution

• Increased metal demand led to airborne arsenic byproducts.
• White arsenic was collected and used for pest control and more malicious purposes.
• Arsenic found its way into common goods such as textiles, wallpaper, and toys.

Poison and Public Perception

• By the late 1800s, public campaigns led to arsenic being banned from household items due to its lethality.
• Arsenic poisoning persisted due to rudimentary forensic tests.

Advancements in Arsenic Detection

• In 1832, chemist James Marsh developed a reliable test for arsenic involving zinc and acid to produce an ignitable gas.
• Newer tests and antidotes eventually became available, but arsenic's historical impact remains significant.

Arsenic's history is marked by its persistent allure and insidious power in both everyday life and high-profile scandals.