Poisons due to their lethal nature invoke a sense of fear in humans. Yet they have also impacted other aspects of human life. Poisons have been used by nomadic hunters to kill their prey by scientists to explore complex biochemical mechanisms of the body by physicians to lower cholesterol and to kill cancer cells by farmers and the general public to destroy pests by the evil minded for homicide and by tyrants as weapons of war. The Art and Science of Poisons presents two facets of poisons: the science behind them and their place in history and art. The science of poisons describes their biochemistry and how they kill. The science story voyages into the sub-microscopic world of atoms molecules and cells. Only there can we see the true miracles and mysteries of life and death. Chapters in the book explore poisons from snakes spiders scorpions sea creatures as well as poisons made by humans in the laboratory and those which are derived from beautiful plants. The art of poisons on the other hand encompasses everything else about these agents that conjures up the image of the skull and crossbones. This side of the story explores the legends and tales of intrigue and surreptitious deaths of well-known personalities such as Socrates Cleopatra Hitler and many more. General readers with a curiosity about science and an interest in history and human nature will enjoy both facets presented in this brief yet varied exploration into the world of poisons.
