hemlock
Its scientific name is conium maculatum. Coniumcomes from the Greek word ‘koenian’ meaning Hemlock, which is believed to have no definition, and maculatum means ‘spotted’ or ‘speckled.’
uses and composition
Hemlock is one of the most poisonous plants in the world. It is an herbaceous biennial plant, growing between 1.5 and 2.5 metres tall.The plants has a mousy smell, and is distinguished by being a shiny and bright green colour and there are purple spots on the stems, however these might not appear until the plant has developed. It has tiny white flowers and its leaves are finely divided, and these features make hemlock resemble non-poisonous plants like parsley or carrots. This plant is native to Europe, Northern Africa and Western Asia but has also been introduced to countries including Asia, North America, Australia and New Zealand. It grows in meadows and wet areas.
symptoms of ingestion
The first symptoms after poisoning from the plant are headaches and ataxia – a lack of muscle coordination to control basic voluntary movements caused by neurological damage from the poison. Respiratory distress or failure may occur in cases of extreme toxication. Also observable symptoms may be hyper salivation, tachychardia (abnormally fast heart rate), pupil dilation, excess sweating, muscle paralysis and the shutdown of the central nervous system. Death occurs after poisoning if respiratory paralysis becomes severe, along with any of these symptoms. The unique factor about the plant poison of hemlock is that when someone is admitted with the symptoms, hemlock cannot immediately be identified as the cause.
toxicity and antidote
The plant poison hemlock produces and contains piperidine alkaloids. Two of these alkaloids, gamma-coniceine and coniine are the most abundant and are responsible for the plant’s toxicity. Coniine has a chemical and pharmacological structure similar to nicotine and is what disrupts the working of the central nervous system by acting on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The ingestion of coniine is what can lead to death because of its high potency in small doses. It also causes death by blocking the neuromascular junction which results in eventual paralysis of respiratory muscles, leading to lack of oxygen to the heart and brain.
case studies
Socrates
The first known case of poisoning by hemlock was in Ancient Greece in 399 BC. Socrates, the famous philosopher, was sentenced to his death by drinking a hemlock liquid mixture. His dramatic death was written about by Plato in his book Phaedo. His account of Socrates’ death describes his paralysis and eventual death.
“The man … laid his hands on him and after a while examined his feet and legs, then pinched his foot hard and asked if he felt it. He said‘No’; then after that, his thighs; and passing upwards in this way he showed us that he was growing cold and rigid. And then again he touched him and said that when it reached his heart, he would be gone. The chill had now reached the region about the groin,and uncovering his face, which had been covered, he said – and these were his
last words – 'Crito, we owe a cock to Asclepius. Pay it and do not neglect it.'That,' said Crito, 'shall be done; but see if you have anything else to say. ' To this question he made no reply, but after a little while he moved; the attendant uncovered him; his eyes were fixed. And Crito when he saw it, closed his mouth and eyes.”
– Phaedo, p. 401-403
Wayne Calderwood
In October 2006, a keen gardener from Devon in the UK committed suicide using hemlock. He chopped dozens of leaves of hemlock, having found them around his property. He mashed them and mixed them with an alcoholic beverage. He then drunk the highly poisonous cocktail and was found dead a week later in his flat. His respiratory system and nervous system had become paralysed and as a result had suffocated due to his throat being restricted up to 70 percent. It is believed he plotted suicide inspired by the death of Socrates.
The first known case of poisoning by hemlock was in Ancient Greece in 399 BC. Socrates, the famous philosopher, was sentenced to his death by drinking a hemlock liquid mixture. His dramatic death was written about by Plato in his book Phaedo. His account of Socrates’ death describes his paralysis and eventual death.
“The man … laid his hands on him and after a while examined his feet and legs, then pinched his foot hard and asked if he felt it. He said‘No’; then after that, his thighs; and passing upwards in this way he showed us that he was growing cold and rigid. And then again he touched him and said that when it reached his heart, he would be gone. The chill had now reached the region about the groin,and uncovering his face, which had been covered, he said – and these were his
last words – 'Crito, we owe a cock to Asclepius. Pay it and do not neglect it.'That,' said Crito, 'shall be done; but see if you have anything else to say. ' To this question he made no reply, but after a little while he moved; the attendant uncovered him; his eyes were fixed. And Crito when he saw it, closed his mouth and eyes.”
– Phaedo, p. 401-403
Wayne Calderwood
In October 2006, a keen gardener from Devon in the UK committed suicide using hemlock. He chopped dozens of leaves of hemlock, having found them around his property. He mashed them and mixed them with an alcoholic beverage. He then drunk the highly poisonous cocktail and was found dead a week later in his flat. His respiratory system and nervous system had become paralysed and as a result had suffocated due to his throat being restricted up to 70 percent. It is believed he plotted suicide inspired by the death of Socrates.