=The Queen=:--"Will fascinate most people. Is very readably written. Its only fault is that it is too short." =Liverpool Courier=:--"It is a readable book as well as an able one. The author is an eminent toxicologist and writes pleasantly on the lore connected with the science." =The Scotsman=:--"It is successful and interesting. Full of odd and startling information." =Manchester Courier=:--"The book is extremely interesting and particularly valuable." =Aberdeen Free Press=:--"Fascinates the majority of his readers. One could wish that Mr. THOMPSON had written much more." =Glasgow Citizen=:--"A book of the week." =Glasgow Herald=:--"Light and eminently readable." +An edition of this book in cloth boards, price 2_s._ 6_d._, is published by The Scientific Press Ltd., 28 & 29, Southampton Street, Strand, London, W.C.+ POISON ROMANCE AND POISON MYSTERIES BY C. J. S. THOMPSON, F.R.HIST.S. AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY AND ROMANCE OF ALCHEMY AND PHARMACY" "THE CHEMIST'S COMPENDIUM" "A MANUAL OF PERSONAL HYGIENE" "PHARMACY AND DISPENSING" ETC. ETC. [Illustration] LONDON GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & SONS, LTD BROADWAY HOUSE, LUDGATE HILL, E.C. 1904 ROUTLEDGE'S CAXTON LIBRARY OF Fiction and Standard Works _Medium 8vo. Price_ =6d.= _each_. OVER 300 VOLUMES. _Write to Messrs. Routledge for a complete list of the Series._ PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION IN response to the wishes of many who read this work when it appeared in serial form, it is now reproduced with much additional matter, which I hope may prove of value to those interested in the fascinating subject of poisons and the study of toxicology. It has been my endeavour to collect, in the following pages, the scattered fragments of historic and romantic lore connected with poisons from the earliest period, and to recount the stories of some notable "poison mysteries" of ancient and modern times. I am indebted to the works of Dr. Wynter Blyth for many facts concerning the poisons of antiquity. C. J. S. T. 1899 PREFACE TO NEW EDITION IN presenting a new edition of this work to my readers, the opportunity has been taken to introduce several new chapters, one of which deals with the "poison mystery" which recently aroused such widespread interest in the United States. In response to suggestions, detailed accounts of the "Horsford case" and the "Lambeth poison mysteries" have also been added. C. J. S. T. CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I POISONS OF ANTIQUITY 11 II POISONS AND SUPERSTITION 21 III ROYAL AND HISTORIC POISONERS 26 IV PROFESSIONAL POISONERS 34 V POISONING PLOTS 43