strychnine
Rat poison ingredient
Strychnine is a bitter, highly toxic alkaloid derived from the seeds of the strychnine tree.
It causes violent muscular convulsions and death by asphyxiation.
Once used in small doses as a stimulant and in rat poison, it now appears mainly in murder mysteries and forensic discussions: The autopsy revealed traces of strychnine.
- 19th centuryThe eighteen hundreds
- crime novelsFiction about solving illegal acts
- detective fictionGenre about investigating crimes
- autopsyMedical examination after death
Toxic metalloid element
- cyanideToxic carbon-nitrogen compound
- rat poisonToxic substance targeting rodents
- vermin controlManaging unwanted animal populations
- rodenticideSubstance lethal to rats
pesticide · toxin · antidote · lethal dose · poisoner · murder weapon · contamination · adulteration
Involuntary muscular contractions
- seizuresInvoluntary convulsions or takings
- muscle spasmsInvoluntary tissue contractions
- opisthotonusInvoluntary severe spinal arching
- rigidityState of being unbending
asphyxiation · respiratory failure · hypersensitivity · lockjaw · arched back · paralysis · agony · violent death
Sharp, unpleasant flavor
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- unpalatableUnpleasant to taste
- acridUnpleasantly sharp-smelling
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
Seizure-causing substance
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
- organic compoundCarbon-bonded chemical substance
- nitrogenousContaining nitrogen compounds
- biosynthesisLiving production of molecules
isolation · purification · crystalline · pharmacology · chiral · stereochemistry · natural product
Agatha Christie
- 19th centuryThe eighteen hundreds
- crime novelsFiction about solving illegal acts
- detective fictionGenre about investigating crimes
arsenic
Toxic metalloid element
- cyanideToxic carbon-nitrogen compound
- rat poisonToxic substance targeting rodents
- vermin controlManaging unwanted animal populations
rodenticide · pesticide · toxin · antidote · lethal dose · poisoner · murder weapon · contamination · adulteration · tainted
convulsions
Involuntary muscular contractions
- seizuresInvoluntary convulsions or takings
- muscle spasmsInvoluntary tissue contractions
- opisthotonusInvoluntary severe spinal arching
rigidity · asphyxiation · respiratory failure · hypersensitivity · lockjaw · arched back · paralysis · agony · violent death · stimulant
bitter taste
Sharp, unpleasant flavor
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- unpalatableUnpleasant to taste
- acridUnpleasantly sharp-smelling
sharp · pungent · distasteful
convulsant
Seizure-causing substance
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
- organic compoundCarbon-bonded chemical substance
- nitrogenousContaining nitrogen compounds
biosynthesis · isolation · purification · crystalline · pharmacology · chiral · stereochemistry · natural product
- dangersdanger, peril, hazard, risk, menace
- hazardsfire hazard, fire hazards, toxin, contamination, tripping hazard
- Toxicspoison, poisons, toxins, toxicity, carcinogens
- hazardous substancescyanide, arsine, mustard gas, nerve gas, phosgene
- old remediescalomel, laudanum, tartar emetic, nostrum, patent medicines
- pet hazardsantifreeze, rat poison, chocolate, xylitol, grapes
strychninenourishment
Food that sustains life
sustenance · nutrient · medicine · mother's milk · vitamin
strychnineantidote
Substance neutralizing harmful agents
antivenin · counteragent · neutralizer · activated charcoal · naloxone