The ancient Romans had a huge fear of moving poisoned. But such a fear certainly could not deprive them of their favorite drink, wine; For this, they had tested an original method to toast. The tan of their glasses had to be so vigorous that the liquids mixed with each other. In this way, the other diners (and woe not to raise the glasses!) Showed their honesty: at least at that juncture, the hypothetical victim would escape her!
Cicuta, Ricina, Arsenico, Belladonna, Talio: anyone who is a lover of the classic yellow novels or of the Crime TV series, cannot fail to have heard of it, and above all, it cannot fail to have tried, at least once, to identify with the mind of the murderer to understand how the poison had been administered.
Among the Content Creators of Instagram and YouTube, it stands out for the interest and originality of the topic, Eleonora Scarcello, @eleonorascatoxicologist of Ivrea, now residing in Munich. After a degree in chemistry and pharmaceutical technologies in Turin and an Erasmus in France, he is passionate about research. He undertakes a doctorate in Brussels, where he remains for five years, making a doctorate and post -doctorate in toxicology.
“From there I approached the world of toxicology and toxic substances”.
So you already had a passion for this issue?
“I would say no, until a few years ago, I absolutely did not think about it: my passions were science, writing and history. The toxicology is something that I discovered” when you grow up “and I would also add gradually. I chose the doctorate because I really liked the research topic and the working group, in addition I very esteemed the supervisor. And as I went into the subject, I was passionate about the subject.”
You are one of the very few, perhaps the only one at the Italian level, to speak on the social networks of toxicology, making it in a simple, clean and fun way, rattling historical curiosities of criminal botany.
When you had the idea of tieing your studies with the passion of history, literature and since you have to go hand in hand with the times – quotes to Cult television series, from the Ricina in Breaking Bad to the poisoning of the Matto chapel?
“Like many people, everything was born in the Covid period, when there was more free time. I wanted to be original. I try to create Reel condensing concepts in no time that I hope to be stimulating. My goal is to entertain and intrigue, not absolutely to provide a sort of university lesson, even if I consider scientific correctness fundamental. I really like to tell stories, and I also understand this job. Search for the peculiarities of the past – using mainly databases that we researchers have – discover and be able to talk about folklore, this bizarre combination of science and popular beliefs “.
This mixture of strong passions has resulted in “assassin molecules”, your first book, published by Cairo
“It is a project that took a long time, but it has been a great satisfaction. Among the arsenic cakes, goodnight herbal teas and poisoned curry chicken, anecdotes that range between different eras, highlighting like everything, but everything, in the right dose, can be fatal. And in the book, I start by talking about water intoxication.”
Are there poisons or some anecdote that you take in the book, who have particularly affected you?
“For my preference, I love arsenic very much. Probably, in addition to being among the most famous poisons, it is also my favorite. In the book I tell the story of the” arsenic eaters “, a population who lived in the Stiria region (in the south-east of Austria). Basically this population ingested arsenic to have better physical performance (men), or to have a more rosy complexion). Great sensation between the scientific community because it was wondered (and we still ask ourselves) as if it were possible that people habitually eaten arsenic for a lifetime, even thirty or forty years, without dying! Ruetting of the capillaries: an apparent swelling, far from healthy. “
Is there a part of the world in which plants are more poisonous?
“I would be inclined to no, the aconito, a beautiful plant with purple flowers, is among the most dangerous in the world, and grows everywhere. It is also found in our gardens!”
Among other things, on the conconito, not spoiling too much, there is an anecdote (which we cannot, alas, define particularly fun, but decidedly curious) precisely on its potential lethality.
“It is a toxic plant to touch only. Despite its danger, however, it is used, for example, in Chinese medicine for more than two thousand years.
What I would like to underline is to always pay attention to plants or herbs that we do not know: plants that may appear harmless, perhaps hide deadly poisons. It must always be remembered that most poisons are in nature! “
But are all these poisons in the end really so easy to find?
“I also talk about it in the book and above all in the conclusion. They often ask me: are you not afraid to speak so explicitly of poisons? They almost accused me of offering ideas for any crimes! Meanwhile, I never go to detail, and to know that the arsenic is a poison there is no need to buy a book! Finding poisons today is really difficult: they are extremely controlled, both in the dark web and in the import. articulated.
To that, from passionate readers or spectators, we grant a sort of poetic license, continuing, in the chimeric world, to believe that it exists.
