Poisoned Arrows?

[Caratacus]

No "handy" references, I'm afraid Nathan. There was an interesting article in Scientific American many years ago which you might get online (if they go back that far, and I'm talking decades here). The article was about William Withering, who pioneered the use of foxglove extract for the treatment of heart conditions such as the above-mentioned 'dropsy'. The poison is indeed fast acting. Apparently, they interfere with the transport of sodium and potassium ions across nerve cell membranes and thus block the nerve impulses - resulting in death if the dose is sufficiently large. Nasty way to go.

Mike Thomas

[Caratacus]

OK, just looked it up. Here is the reference. Told you it was a long time ago! I think you are more likely to get this through a public library with a good reference section. You can get it online but I think you have to be a subscriber to the magazine for that.

Scientific American 212, 110 - 119 (1965)
William Withering and the Purple Foxglove
J. Worth Estes & Paul Dudley White

Mike Thomas