Pills, Potions and Poisons : How Drugs Work

Pills, Potions and Poisons : How Drugs Work PDF

Author: Trevor Stone

Publisher: OUP Oxford

Published: 2000-03-16

Total Pages: 502

ISBN-13: 9780191587849

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About half of all the medicines prescribed by doctors are not taken by their patients. One of the reasons most commonly given by patients for not taking drugs is that they feel unhappy about taking medicines which they do not understand and of which they are afraid. This book attempts to rectify this problem by showing in clear, non-technical language how medicines and other drugs work in the body to reduce the effects of disease. Most chapters include fascinating background information on how some of our most important drugs were discovered, along with intriguing and often amusing anecdotes about the drugs and the people behind their discovery. Each chapter also includes a summary of the key points together with illustrations, photographs or diagrams to summarise the main groups and how they work in the body. The book covers all the major groups of drugs, with complete listings of all the drugs available in the UK and the USA, so that the reader can locate his or her specific drug and read about the actions of the drugs in that group. The various chapters cover drugs used to treat high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, ulcers, cancers, infections, impotence, incontinence, arthritis, osteoporosis, as well as hormone replacement therapy, oral contraceptives and drugs used in disorders of the brain such as schizophrenia, depression, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy. There is also a chapter on drugs which are abused such as cannabis, alcohol, nicotine and ecstasy, and a chapter covering some of the poisons we encounter, such as carbon monoxide, arsenic, sheep dip, and the venoms of snakes, spiders, scorpions and marine organisms. Here, then, a fascinating survey of how chemicals have their effects in the body. It shows how drugs work and explains why it is that taking some medicines for many years is far safer than suffering the long-term effects of disease. Pills, Potions and Poisons is an entertaining read that should also help to improve your health and quality of life.

Poison

Poison PDF

Author: Ben Hubbard

Publisher: Hachette UK

Published: 2023-10-26

Total Pages: 221

ISBN-13: 1802796959

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"As every amateur toxicologist knows, the difference between a poison and medicine is often simply the dose." There is no weapon as insidious, as seductive or as mysterious as poison. In this terrifying account of history's silent assassin, discover the gripping tales of users, abusers and victims of these mysterious substances, from Cleopatra and Catherine de' Medici to contemporary secret service agents and terrorists. Documenting royal scandal, political upheaval and personal tragedies, Poison details a gruesome thread that runs often undetected through human history.

The Duchess of Northumberland's Little Book of Poisons, Potions and Aphrodisiacs

The Duchess of Northumberland's Little Book of Poisons, Potions and Aphrodisiacs PDF

Author: The Duchess of Northumberland

Publisher: The History Press

Published: 2013-06-14

Total Pages: 110

ISBN-13: 0752497251

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Combining the fascinating archive of the first Duchess of Northumberland with the expertise of Jane, the present duchess and the creator of the famous Poison Garden at Alnwick Castle, this gift book contains a collection of wonderful medicinal recipes passed down through generations. The reader will learn the secrets of the poisonous and curative properties of these plants and the more unusual varieties that have been cultivated and planted for centuries, and will discover how 'to make teethe whyte' and how 'to make heare growe'. Beautifully illustrated, The Duchess of Northumberland's Little Book of Poisons, Potions and Aphrodisiacs is the ideal gift for those with an interest in the wild plants of Britain, and for those with an interest in poisons and potions... The Duchess of Northumberland was responsible for the £35 million restoration of the 12 acres of walled garden at Alnwick Castle, which now includes the largest treehouse in the world and the famous Poison Garden. The Poison Garden remains one of the few places to have obtained permission from the Home Office to grow cannabis, opium poppies and catha edulis for display.

Plagues, poisons and potions

Plagues, poisons and potions PDF

Author: William G. Naphy

Publisher: Manchester University Press

Published: 2021-02-02

Total Pages: 245

ISBN-13: 1526158604

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Plagues, poisons and potions highlights one of the most fascinating aspects of the history of early modern plague. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries outbreaks of plague in and around the ancient Duchy of Savoy led to the arrests of many people who were accused of conspiring to spread the disease. Those implicated in the conspiracies were usually poor female migrants working in the plague hospitals under the direction of educated professional male barber-surgeons. These 'conspirators' were subsequently tried for spreading plague among leading and wealthy people from urban areas so that they could rob them while the afflicted homeowners were confined to their beds. In order to understand how this phenomenon developed and was regarded at the time, this study examines the courts, the judiciary and the part played by torture in the trials, which frequently concluded with the spectacular and gruesome execution of the suspects. The author goes on to consider the socio-economic conditions of the workers and in doing so highlights an early modern form of 'class warfare'. However, what makes this phenomenon especially interesting is that in an age dominated by superstition, religious strife and witch-hunts, the conspiracies were always given a moe rational explanation and motivation – profit. Both teachers and students of early modern history will be fascinated by this enlightening study into the fears of European society, the spread of the disease and the judicial procedures of the time.

Potions and Poisons

Potions and Poisons PDF

Author: Dennis Baker (Fantasy gamer)

Publisher:

Published: 2018-01-02

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781640780002

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Good For What AilsYou! Whether they're used to bolster heroes'abilities or take enemies out of the game, potions and poisons are key parts ofmany adventurers' arsenals. Far more options than simple healing draughts orstrength-sapping toxins are available to savvy heroes, though, especially thoseingenious enough to craft their own concoctions. Pathfinder Player Companion:Potions & Poisons offers a sea of new potions, elixirs, and strangeralchemical wonders for the discerning adventurer, plus heinous designer poisons.Class and character options for those who brew or regularly imbibe consumablesround out these offerings. Inside this book you'llfind: ►Feats and archetypes for raceswith an affinity for poisons, including gripplis, nagaji, and vishkanyas, plusthe scorpion sorcerer bloodline for those with a toxicheritage. ►Archetypes for a variety ofclasses known for brewing or poisoning, including alchemists, rogues, andwitches. ►Spells and feats specializedfor potion brewing, plus drugs, elixirs, gear, poisons, and tinctures-alchemicalremedies that produce potent effects but impair theuser. This Pathfinder Player Companion isintended for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and the Pathfindercampaign setting, but it can be easily incorporated into any fantasyworld.

Potions, Poisons, and Panaceas

Potions, Poisons, and Panaceas PDF

Author: David E. Brussell

Publisher:

Published: 1996-12-31

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13:

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In this complete ethnobotanical study of the flora of the Caribbean island of Montserrat, David Eric Brussell provides an engaging scientific catalog that is rich in information about the plants and the integral part they play in Caribbean culture, economy, history, and folklore. Including twenty-four color plates and fifty-two black-and-white photographs, this book contains an exhaustive list of 378 botanical entries, featuring 282 species of ethnobotanically important plants and representing seventy-eight families. Recent eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano on Montserrat have made the data collected for this book especially important. After summarizing previous botanical research on the flora of Montserrat -- particularly that conducted by early scientists and explorers -- Brussell describes his own collecting methodology and looks at the significance of the area's geography, climate, vegetation, and history. His extensive catalog of the plants and their uses makes up the major portion of the book. The appendix includes a listing of all the collected plants as well as Brussell's field collection records. Of particular note is Brussell's investigation of the flora in regard to the Caribbean cultural environment. As a result of his assimilation into the culture and his extensive interviews with the West Indian people, he was able to observe their myriad uses of the plants in voodoo rituals and practices, and as medicines and foodstuffs. Some plant species are also used as aphrodisiacs and poisons, insecticides and insect repellents, dyes, building materials, and industrial chemicals. Many species were collected in the area devastated by the volcano. It is still too early toknow how many plants can still be found on the island. Moreover, the deaths of elderly informants, each with his or her unique and irreplaceable knowledge of ethnobotanical data, have made the information contained in this book all the more precious.

Poison

Poison PDF

Author: Bridget Zinn

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Published: 2013-03-12

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 1423153413

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Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she''s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom''s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend. But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart...misses. Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king''s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she''s not alone. She''s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can''t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her? Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she''s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she''s the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons PDF

Author: Kate Khavari

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Published: 2022-06-07

Total Pages: 243

ISBN-13: 1639100083

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The Lost Apothecary meets Dead Dead Girls in this fast-paced, STEMinist adventure. Debut author Kate Khavari deftly entwines a pulse-pounding mystery with the struggles of a woman in a male-dominated field in 1923 London. Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh is determined to blaze a new trail at the University College London, but with her colleagues’ beliefs about women’s academic inabilities and not so subtle hints that her deceased father’s reputation paved her way into the botany department, she feels stymied at every turn. When she attends a dinner party for the school, she expects to engage in conversations about the university's large expedition to the Amazon. What she doesn’t expect is for Mrs. Henry, one of the professors’ wives, to drop to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin. Dr. Maxwell, Saffron’s mentor, is the main suspect and evidence quickly mounts. Joined by fellow researcher--and potential romantic interest--Alexander Ashton, Saffron uses her knowledge of botany as she explores steamy greenhouses, dark gardens, and deadly poisons to clear Maxwell's name. Will she be able to uncover the truth or will her investigation land her on the murderer’s list, in this entertaining examination of society’s expectations.

The Killer Bean of Calabar and Other Stories

The Killer Bean of Calabar and Other Stories PDF

Author: Peter Macinnis

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Published: 2004-07-01

Total Pages: 257

ISBN-13: 1741154375

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A triumphantly toxic tome. As a dedicated Macinnis fan, I relish this latest display of erudition, story-telling and fun. One of his very best.' Robyn Williams, Head, ABC Science Unit Was Abraham Lincoln really as mad as a hatter? Who poisoned Phar Lap? Can wallpaper really kill? Was Jack the Ripper an arsenic eater? Painting a broad canvas, from the early Egyptians to the arsenical tube wells in Bangladesh and the Sarin gas attacks in a Tokyo subway, The Killer Bean of Calabar explores the accidental and intentional tales of poisons and their use throughout history. Historically difficult substances to trace, poisons have been used by many for their own dastardly purposes, from the Great Poisoners such as Nero and Madame de Brinvilliers to the mass gassings of World War II. But the truly great poisoners are those who make selective use of poisons to save human life, not the few who use poison to take human life. Most of the medicines we take are themselves poisons - therapeutic only by virtue of being more deadly to our viruses than to us. Poisons are all around us - from the plants in our gardens and lead in our homes, to the bacteria and toxins in our bodies. With ripping yarns and unusual views of famous people, Macinnis explains the whys and wherefores of poisons and poisoning.

Master of Poisons

Master of Poisons PDF

Author: Andrea Hairston

Publisher: Tordotcom

Published: 2020-09-08

Total Pages: 464

ISBN-13: 1250260558

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“This is a prayer hymn, a battle cry, a love song, a legendary call and response bonfire talisman tale. This is medicine for a broken world." —Daniel José Older Named a Best of 2020 Pick for Kirkus Review's Best Books of 2020 Award-winning author Andrea Hairston weaves together African folktales and postcolonial literature into unforgettable fantasy in Master of Poisons The world is changing. Poison desert eats good farmland. Once-sweet water turns foul. The wind blows sand and sadness across the Empire. To get caught in a storm is death. To live and do nothing is death. There is magic in the world, but good conjure is hard to find. Djola, righthand man and spymaster of the lord of the Arkhysian Empire, is desperately trying to save his adopted homeland, even in exile. Awa, a young woman training to be a powerful griot, tests the limits of her knowledge and comes into her own in a world of sorcery, floating cities, kindly beasts, and uncertain men. Awash in the rhythms of folklore and storytelling and rich with Hairston's characteristic lush prose, Master of Poisons is epic fantasy that will bleed your mind with its turns of phrase and leave you aching for the world it burns into being. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.