• Blog
  • Maryland Poison Center
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
eAntidote
Blog of the Maryland Poison Center
  • Blog
  • Maryland Poison Center
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
Home  /  Poisonings Throughout History  /  Poisonings Throughout History: William Palmer
21 May 2024

Poisonings Throughout History: William Palmer

Guest Staff Historic Poisonings Leave a Comment
Black & White portrait of William Palmer on the left and an image of an antique strychnine bottle on the right

*Disclaimer: This content is based on real historical events and includes sensitive language.*

 

The Prince of Poisoners

Charles Dickens called him “the greatest villain that ever stood in the Old Bailey” (Old Bailey is a name for a criminal court building in England). William Palmer, an English physician from the Victorian period (born 1824, died 1856), is widely considered the “Prince of Poisoners.” He is accused of murdering multiple members of his family and was executed by gallows for the murder of his friend John Cook. The motive of the murders is a cause as old as time itself: financial gain. The doctor was deeply in debt due to his wild lifestyle and betting on horse racing. It was thought that his family members were murdered to gain life insurance money. His friend John Cook was murdered for the large amount of money he won following a horse race, and it was believed that Dr. Palmer used strychnine to kill him.

What is Strychnine?

Strychnine is a chemical compound that affects the nervous system (the parts of the body that work together including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves). The cells of the spinal cord use chemical transmitters to send signals. Strychnine prevents the binding of one of the chemical transmitters called glycine. Glycine is an inhibitory transmitter (blocks a chemical message from being passed along) that decreases activity in cells. When glycine cannot bind correctly to the spinal cord, it causes increased muscle activity. This can lead to painful muscle spasms and seizures. Other symptoms might include rapid heart rate, increases in blood pressure and temperature, and respiratory failure. These symptoms tend to begin quickly, usually within minutes. Strychnine exposure can be deadly.

Strychnine in Victorian Times and Beyond

Strychnine was used by Victorian physicians in small doses as a stimulant (a substance that increases levels of activity inside the body). There are cases of strychnine use by athletes to improve performance, including by Olympic Marathon Runner Thomas Hicks in 1904. The International Olympics Committee banned strychnine use in the games since the 1960s, and it’s rarely used as an illicit performance enhancing agent in competitive sports now. However, there was a case of its illegal use in the 2016 Olympics!

Is strychnine still available today?

Yes, strychnine is used today by professional exterminators, primarily to kill gophers or moles. Occasionally it’s found in Chinese herbal medicines and in street drugs. It’s also found in the seeds of certain trees, mostly found in Asia and Australia.

How is strychnine poisoning treated with today’s modern medicine?

Strychnine poisoning can be serious and needs to be treated in a health care facility. Treatment includes medicines to stop seizures and muscle spasms, and external cooling techniques to keep the body cool.

What should I do if I or someone I know has been exposed to strychnine?

If anyone has been exposed to strychnine, please call your local poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Nearly all patients will need emergency care, following exposure.  We are available 24 hours a day.

 

Amber Ferrell, PharmD

Certified Specialist in Poison Information

About Author

Guest Staff

From time to time, we’ll feature posts from one of our staff members. We have 14 Specialists in Poison Information (we call them “SPIs,” pronounced like “spy”) who are pharmacists or nurses that have more than 250 combined years of experience answering our phones, and who have all passed an additional certification exam that tests their knowledge of poisons of all kinds. We also have Toxicology Fellows who are completing a two-year fellowship in clinical toxicology to develop their knowledge and skills to prepare them for their future career. Before joining our team, they worked in pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals. It’s safe to say they’ve heard it all.

Previous Article What You Should Know About Antidepressants
Next Article Gummies: Sweet but Potentially Dangerous

Related Posts

  • Various antique bottles of Jamaican Ginger Extract/Jake

    Poisonings Throughout History: Jake Walk

  • Collage with a portrait sketch of George Henry Lansom on the left and a picture of an aconite plant on the right

    Poisonings Throughout History: George Henry Lansom

  • Collage with Mithridates VI Eupator on the left and an antique honey jar on the right

    Poisonings Throughout History: King Mithridates

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Tags

About Us Adults Alcohol Antifreeze Button Batteries Cannabis Carbon Monoxide child-resistant packaging Children Cigarettes Cleaning Products E-cigarettes Food Poisoning Grandparents Hand Sanitizer Historic Poisonings Holiday Safety Home Laundry Pods Medicine Medicine Disposal Medicine Safety Nicotine Nurse Older Adults Over-the Counter Parents Personal Care Products Pharmacist Plants Poison Expert Poison Exposures Poison Myths Poison Safety Pre-Teens Safe Storage Seasonal Specialist in Poison Information Supplements Swimming Pools Teens Toxicology Fellowship Toy Safety Traveling Vaping

Join Our Mailing List!

Stay up to date on trending poison topics by subscribing to our monthly newsletter. Click here to subscribe.

Recent Posts

  • Cleaning products in and around a cleaning bucket
    Spring Cleaning April 24, 2025
  • Young girl outside in the snow holding a pile of snow
    Will Kids Really Eat That? Part Three February 28, 2025
  • Happy senior couple looking through window at home.
    Poison Help for Older Adults January 29, 2025
  • Lighted background with present wrapped in blue bow with decorative pine and white berries
    A Wrapped Gift – Holiday Poison Safety December 16, 2024

Social Media

Comment Policy

We welcome your comments. Please note that this is a moderated blog. All comments will be reviewed before they are posted, which will result in a delay in the posting of comments. Please leave comments that are respectful and useful. Malicious, anonymous, and promotional comments will not be posted. We reserve the right to remove comments from the site at any time.

For more information, please review the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s Social Media Code of Ethics. 

If you have any questions or concerns about this policy, please contact us.

Instagram

View on Instagram

Maryland Poison Center (@mdpoisoncenter) Instagram photos and videos

Recent Posts

  • Cleaning products in and around a cleaning bucket
    Spring Cleaning April 24, 2025
  • Young girl outside in the snow holding a pile of snow
    Will Kids Really Eat That? Part Three February 28, 2025
  • Happy senior couple looking through window at home.
    Poison Help for Older Adults January 29, 2025
  • Lighted background with present wrapped in blue bow with decorative pine and white berries
    A Wrapped Gift – Holiday Poison Safety December 16, 2024
© Copyright 2014 Maryland Poison Center. Theme by BloomPixel. | Privacy