this post was submitted on 22 Mar 2025
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No Stupid Questions

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And before anyone makes a cheeky "what do you need this for ๐Ÿคจ" comment, I'm a writer. I'm not going to murder anyone I promise, I just want to write a scene where one guy gets poisoned.

I need something that doesn't require modern technology to extract/produce, and would make sense to be avaible in a place with a temperate to mediterranean climate. The slower, the better. Does a plant or something like that exist or do I need to make one up?

Update: I looked into death cap mushrooms and they might be just what I'm looking for! Long reaction time, and being dried doesn't make them less toxic! (the scene takes place in midwinter so no fresh ones would be avaible) If anyone has more info on them, please do share.

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There is a way, and it might already be somewhat of a trope but you can use fruitpits to extract amygdalin which can be then refined with a homelab to a cyanide like substance. Although not pure or concentrated enough, but it could be added to food by a wife on a very long period of time and make the Victim very I'll with fatal results.

Amygdalin is extracted from almonds or apricot kernels by boiling in ethanol; on evaporation of the solution and the addition of diethyl ether, amygdalin is precipitated as white minute crystals.

[โ€“] ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

There was a theory a while back that Napoleon died from arsenic poisoning due to the damp Mediterranean climate causing the decay of a green wallpaper using an arsenic based dye. It didn't end up being entirely true but he may have been slowly poised by environmental arsenic throughout his life. Here is an article about it.

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element in the Earth's crust as metallic crystals or combined with other elements. Being a heavy metal, arsenic bioaccumulates. That is, it builds up in the body over time, so slow poisoning is possible.

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[โ€“] Thavron@lemmy.ca 5 points 6 days ago

Ricin was used in Breaking Bad. Fairly easy to produce and administer.

[โ€“] sabin@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago

Source of radiation given to someone to hold in their wallet/pocket

[โ€“] werefreeatlast@lemmy.world 5 points 6 days ago (2 children)

At work I learned that cyanide is actually very dangerous because it accumulates its effects. Like you have a little now and a little later, then suddenly you can't get up from bed so you call in sick. Its dangerous stuff.

[โ€“] skillissuer@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

cyanide doesn't accumulate, it can be broken down in some hours (very small amounts of course). otoh many heavy metals do behave this way, maybe you worked with both at the same time

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[โ€“] can@sh.itjust.works 5 points 6 days ago

don't be Don, don't be Don, don't be Don

Oh thank God.

[โ€“] Gingerlegs@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I don't like where these comments are going.

[โ€“] adespoton@lemmy.ca 4 points 5 days ago (3 children)

If you want long-term, look to the liver. Alcohol will destroy it over time, but so will viral hepatitis. Have you considered slow acting diseases like hepatitis or HIV? Or something intensely carcinogenic?

Mushrooms can cause liver failure too, depending on the species. Amanitas are an example

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Alcohol is a very effective slow acting poison.

[โ€“] kerrigan778@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago

Thallium was pretty famous for this until its mechanism of toxicity and antidotes were better understood. Slow acting, tasteless, odorless, colorless, symptoms weird and mimic other things. Used to be used for rat poison but the risk of accidental exposure was too high. Requires late 1800s technology.

[โ€“] Barking@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

Am not sure if helpful, or if this would be somewhere you could visit for reference.

The Alnwick Victorian poison garden is fascinating and perhaps even has ideas for you.

https://www.alnwickgarden.com/the-garden/poison-garden/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alnwick_Garden

Hope this helps. Am hoping to get to visit one day.

[โ€“] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Good luck with your writing! I too have had to search for some very silly things for things I've written! As for slow acting poisons, only ones I could think of that would be really available modernly would be like, antifreeze and such, but I don't think that's so slow acting. And usually it's kids and dogs that get into that.

[โ€“] SilverFlame@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

There's a historical analog for antifreeze poisoning: poisoning from improperly brewed alcohol (methanol poisoning)

[โ€“] dohpaz42@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

Apple seeds contain cyanide, and are easy to get in quantity without raising suspicion. How long does it take? No idea.

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