Strychnine poisoning - accidental?

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PaulaD
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Location: Born in Edinburgh, now living in Essex1

Strychnine poisoning - accidental?

Post by PaulaD » Sat Feb 24, 2007 11:18 pm

Hi All,

Just found DC for a rellie who died of strychnine poisoning age 40. The poor woman had lost her husband 5 years earlier (he died of a ruptured intestine) and was left with 2 toddlers and another on the way.
My question is would it be possible to accidentally poison yourself with strychnine or am I probably right to assume it was deliberate?

Paula
Searching for Barclay Aberdeenshire, Stewart Edinburgh, Brown Edinburgh & Uphall, Finlayson E Lothian, Fairley & Renton E & W Lothian for starters!
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paddyscar
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Post by paddyscar » Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:11 am

Hi Paula:

There are 12 threads dealing with poison (opium, lysol, carbon monoxide, alcohol) on this site, but none from strychnine.

Several of those poisonings happened at work, so her occupation may come in to play. Do you know if she worked outside the home, and if so, what did she do?

Frances
John Kelly (b 22 Sep 1897) eldest child of John Kelly & Christina Lipsett Kelly of Glasgow
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PaulaD
Posts: 216
Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 5:42 pm
Location: Born in Edinburgh, now living in Essex1

Post by PaulaD » Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:30 am

Hi Frances,

She took over running a farm when her husband died. Not sure what it could be used for except maybe killing rats/mice?

Paula
Searching for Barclay Aberdeenshire, Stewart Edinburgh, Brown Edinburgh & Uphall, Finlayson E Lothian, Fairley & Renton E & W Lothian for starters!
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emanday
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Post by emanday » Sun Feb 25, 2007 2:29 am

Strychnine was quite commonly in use to kill rodents and could be bought over-the-counter in those days. It is fairly likely that she had been in the habit of using it to kill the rats and mice attracted to the grains and animal feeds.

Accidental poisoning would, I would imagine, be more than possible under those circumstances.
[b]Mary[/b]
A cat leaves pawprints on your heart
McDonald or MacDonald (some couldn't make up their mind!), Bonner, Crichton, McKillop, Campbell, Cameron, Gitrig (+other spellings), Clark, Sloan, Stewart, McCutcheon, Ireland (the surname)
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karenc
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Location: shotts

Post by karenc » Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:23 pm

Hi Paula

I seem to remeber on WDYTYA? when Lesley Garrett was on it one of her rellies died from the same thing and they thought that it was maybe her husband who had poisoned her. in the end the husband said that the poison bottle and her medicine bottle looked the same and she had drunk from the wrong one!!!! :shock:

Karen
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DavidWW
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Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 9:47 pm

Post by DavidWW » Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:42 pm

Just to put the cat among the pigeons, - strychnine, in combination with other substances was used as a cure for opium addiction.

One slight problem, this could lead to strychnine addiction, and get the dosage very slightly wrong .......................

David
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PaulaD
Posts: 216
Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 5:42 pm
Location: Born in Edinburgh, now living in Essex1

Post by PaulaD » Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:50 pm

Hi Mary & Karen,

Many thanks for your suggestions. Think you could be right about mixing up the bottles Karen. Didn't think of that :oops: What a nasty way to go :shock:
Searching for Barclay Aberdeenshire, Stewart Edinburgh, Brown Edinburgh & Uphall, Finlayson E Lothian, Fairley & Renton E & W Lothian for starters!
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