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Oxalic Acid, Epsom Salt and the Poison Bottle

Department of Inorganic Chemistry, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE 1 7RU

1 During the 19th century inadequate control of the sale of poisons, widespread illiteracy, and the English addiction to self-medication contributed to the high incidence of accidental poisoning by oxalic acid mistaken for Epsom salt.

2 Chemical methods for identifying oxalic acid failed when the product was adulterated.

3 Many mechanical devices were proposed to prevent careless dispensing; designs for poison bottles of distinctive shape, colour and texture appeared regularly for 40 years.

Human & Experimental Toxicology, Vol. 1, No. 2, 187-193 (1982)
DOI: 10.1177/096032718200100210


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