尼爾‧布拉德伯里: 砒霜的黑暗歷史

砒霜的黑暗歷史

可能沒有任何物質能像所謂的「毒藥之王」砒霜這樣，始終一直都是陰謀算計時少不了的盟友。化學成分很純粹的砒霜並不是太大的威脅，因為人類的身體不太會吸收它；但當砒霜和其他元素結合時就會變得很危險。所以，這種物質是如何成為搶手的毒藥？尼爾‧布拉德伯里要來探討這種元素既醜惡又致命的歷史。

Arsenic has haunted history as the poison of choice for rulers and schemers, earning the nickname “inheritance powder” in 17th-century France. Its odorless, tasteless form made it nearly undetectable, fueling both accidental and deliberate deaths for centuries. At one point, 80% of English wallpaper contained arsenic, causing mysterious illnesses and deaths until public outcry led to bans. Only with the invention of reliable forensic tests did society begin to strip arsenic of its invisible menace.