Note: If you are reading this infromation because you plan to use it on your spouse or in-laws, please leave. This guide if for the use of writers or students only. If you murder someone, you will be caught.
Colchicine
AKA: Crocus, Meadow Saffron
Fast or Slow Acting: 2-5 hours after ingested.
How can you ingest it? It's made into medication used for Gout and other ailments. Certain common inhibitors of CYP3A4 and/or P-gp, including grapefruit juice, may increase the risk of colchicine toxicity.
How can you make it so the victim won't notice it? You can put it in with food or drink but they will probably feel the burning in the mouth or throat. Pill form is best.
What would the victim at the crime scene look like? Colchicine poisoning resembles arsenic poisoning. There is no antidote.
What would the autopsy find? A case in which colchicine is detected in urine, serum, or plasma, as determined by a commercial laboratory.
Case study: Murderess Catherine Wilson is thought to have used it to poison a number of victims in the 19th century.
Clarissa - Thanks for this information, as always. This is one of my favourite features you have, and I'm always excited when you've got something new here. This, for instance, was one poison that I hadn't read about before. Fascinating...
ReplyDeleteInteresting coincidence!I saw a documentary last night on our irish language station called The Chrysanthmum Killer- a true case of a man convicted of murder when the true killer was a chrysanthmum, blogger Michael Farry starred http://michaelfarry.blogspot.com)
ReplyDeleteReally enjoy these mystery writer posts! Thanks!
OMG, I have a lot of crocuses in my yard, didn't know they were so dangerous!
ReplyDeleteLOL. Sorry I have to laugh at your red note above! hehe
ReplyDeleteWhoever thought the humble crocus could be so dangerous.
ReplyDeleteLove this feature.
oh this is great you are getting a mention when I poison someone in my book
ReplyDeleteInteresting that such a beautiful plant can be so deadly. On the news last night there was a mention of a child's medicine or something that had been pulled off the market due to what was in it. I wasn't really listening until I hear 'belladonna' and I thought 'no way' would someone put that in something for children, but I guess they did.
ReplyDeleteMason
Thoughts in Progress
I wrote a post about colchicum too...not so much the "how to" as the history, etc... http://carolynsnowabiad.blogspot.com/2010/08/crocuses.html. I used it in my WIP.
ReplyDeleteFall blooming Colchicum is not a real crocus, but it resembles one.
hi miss clarissa! wow thats pretty scary that a pretty flower could be a killer. i got some sunflowers in my wip. i hope they cant kill off anyone cause one of my characters eats them. yikes! i could kill off one of my characters with a plant. eeek! ha ha
ReplyDelete...hugs from lenny
Man, that use to be one of my favorite flowers. I hope I never get gout. :) And I loved the murder disclaimer, LOL
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
NOOOOO!!! Not the beautiful and ever so lovely crocus!! Oh no!!!!! LOL!!! But they are ever so pretty and delicate!!! And have such a lovely name too!! Meadow Saffron. Awwww!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info Clarissa! Fascinating as always! Take care
x
LOL @you w/the disclaimer... BAH!!! :D
ReplyDeleteme likey this one... hmm... Thanks, and wow. This is perfect for writing/plotting~ <3
I really love writing these posts but often I feel really nervous afterward. I don't know why, I question everything I eat and drink and touch. I would think that knowing more would make a person less scared rather than more.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad some of you liked the disclaimer.
CD
Never knew crocus were poisonous!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful flower too! Question-where would you buy the pill form? Is this something the murderer would do, or is it for sale through natural and organic shops?
ReplyDeleteHow useful to know that your ordinary garden croci + orange juice are lethal!
ReplyDeleteWhat about adding the stuff to a spicy curry dish?
I forgot you were doing this series. I love it. Since my sequel has the villain working all kinds of havoc through herbs and plants. I read on KarenG's that you got a book deal. How super cool.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
very interesting!
ReplyDeleteI love the little red message at the top...
Interesting! And it's such a pretty plant...
ReplyDeleteI don't think you can just walk into any pharmacy and buy it. It needs to be prescribed.
ReplyDeleteCD
I didn't know crocuses could be used for that sort of purpose; I certainly won't eye them as completely harmless anymore.
ReplyDeleteThose things used to grow everywhere in our yard in Oregon.
ReplyDeleteFor such a pretty flower it has a nasty bite ;)
ReplyDeleteAnother great and useful post for mystery writers, but hopefully not people with murderous intentions towards their spouses and in-laws. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought I'm the only one sitting here waiting for comments!lol
ReplyDeleteThanks for the warning, but if the plant is not found in the tropics I'm safe...(but really, can't help but lol!)
Oops! And I thought my beautiful spring crocuses were such harmless little things.
ReplyDelete