Did you know that Agatha Christie decided to become a mystery writer while mixing medicines at a hospital during World War I?
Or that wolfsbane — a plant once thought to weaken werewolves — is so poisonous that florists have gotten sick just from touching the flowers?
Or that the powerful venom of the Gila monster has been used to develop a drug to combat diabetes?
I didn’t either, until my friend, Ed came along. Ed has only known me for a few months and yet for some strange reason, he knows me well. Which is why I had to laugh when he recently sent me a link about a new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History called The Power of Poison.
The exhibit, which opened in November, examines all things toxic. How poisons have been used by plants and animals as a defense against predators. How witches and wizards have utilized poisons as a source of magical power. And, of course, how people throughout time have employed poisons as a lethal weapon. But poisons have also been used to save lives, and are currently being studied by scientists for use in treating epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.
Curated by parasitologist Dr. Mark Siddall, The Power of Poison shares examples of toxins in nature, myth, legend and science. Thanks to his efforts, you can learn all about the toxic skin of the pretty (but deadly) golden poison frog, the reason why hat makers in the 1700s and 1800s were believed to be mad and why alleged poisoner Lucrezia Borgia may have been innocent of the crimes historians have attributed to her.
If you share a similar fascination with poisons, and are going to be in New York City this summer, do check out the exhibit. Light knows I plan to. Can’t make the trip? Then take a few moments to view this “enchanted book” about poisons.
To those kind readers who now think I’m really very strange (but still plan to be in Manhattan before June 22), be sure to take in the museum anyway. The Butterfly Conservatory is particularly awesome.
(Photo by Pablo H. Caridad.)
