What are the poisons. The most dangerous poison in the world. Poisons of plant and animal origin

Any toxic substances, whether chemical or vegetable, pose a serious danger to the body. Science knows dozens and hundreds of the strongest poisons, many of which are used by man himself, and far from being for good deeds - this is terrorism, and genocide, and much more. But there were also times when poisons were considered medicines. One way or another, toxic substances are still subjected to active research in laboratories. What is the most powerful poison in the world?

Cyanide

Cyanides are a class of harmful potent substances that are dangerous to humans. Their toxicity is explained by the instantaneous effect on the respiratory functions of cells, which, in turn, stops the work of the whole organism. Cells stop functioning, organs fail. All this leads to a severe condition, fraught with death. Cyanide itself is a derivative of hydrocyanic acid.

Externally, cyanide is a white powder with a crystalline structure. It is rather unstable and dissolves well in water. We are talking about the most famous form - potassium cyanide, and there is also sodium cyanide, which is also quite toxic. The poison is obtained not only in the laboratory, but also extracted from plants. It is important to know that some foods may contain this substance in small amounts. The danger is fraught with almonds, fruit seeds. But poisoning is cumulative.

Cyanide is often used in industrial production - in particular, the production of paper, some fabrics, plastics, as well as in reagents for photo development. In metallurgy, cyanide is used to purify metals from impurities; and in the grain stores they destroy rodents with means based on this poison. The lethal dose of the most dangerous poison in the world is 0.1 mg / l, and death occurs within an hour. If the number is greater, then after ten minutes. First, a person loses consciousness, then stops breathing, and then the heart stops.

For the first time this substance was isolated by the German chemist Bunsen, and in 1845 manufacturing methods were developed on an industrial scale.

Anthrax spores

These substances are the causative agents of an extremely dangerous infectious disease, most often ending in death. At risk of catching Bacillus Anthracis are people who come into contact with agricultural livestock. Spores can be stored for a very long time in the land of the animal burial ground.

The disease has been killing people for many centuries, especially in the Middle Ages. And only in the 19th century, Louis Pasteur managed to create a vaccine against it. He studied the resistance of animals to poisons by injecting them with a weakened strain of the ulcer, as a result of which immunity was developed. In 2010, US scientists created an even more effective vaccine against the disease.

Anthrax spores are found in all secretions of a sick animal, falling with them into water and earth. Thus, they can spread hundreds of kilometers from the source of infection. In African countries, insects that drink blood can also become infected with poison. Incubation ranges from several hours to seven days. The poison causes irreparable damage to blood vessels, causing swelling, loss of sensitivity, inflammation. Carbuncles begin to appear on the skin; especially dangerous if they occur on the face. Subsequently, a host of other unpleasant symptoms can occur, from diarrhea to bloody vomiting. Often at the end of the patient waiting for a fatal outcome.

The disease caused by anthrax spores develops extremely rapidly and gives terrible external and internal lesions.

Many residents of Russia remember this name from school life safety lessons. One of the most poisonous substances on Earth since 1991 has been classified as a weapon of mass destruction. And it was discovered in 1938 by a chemical company in Germany and from the very beginning was intended for military purposes.

Under normal conditions, Sarin is an odorless liquid that evaporates quickly. Since it cannot be smelled, poisoning can only be guessed when symptoms appear.

Moreover, poisoning occurs both through inhalation of steam, and through contact with the skin or ingestion into the oral cavity.

Sarin binds certain enzymes, in particular protein, so that it can no longer support nerve fibers.

A mild degree of poisoning is expressed in shortness of breath and weakness. With an average - there is a narrowing of the pupils, lacrimation, severe headache, nausea, trembling of the extremities. If you do not provide timely assistance, then death occurs in 100% of cases, but even if assistance is provided, then every second poisoned person dies. The severe degree is characterized by the same symptoms as the average, but they are more pronounced and progress faster. Vomiting opens, spontaneous excretion of feces and urine, a headache of incredible strength appears. A minute later, a person faints, five minutes later he dies from damage to the respiratory center.

Sarin was not used in World War II due to Hitler's prejudice against poison gases.

Amatoxin

This is the most powerful poison of those that are independently produced in nature, it is more powerful than the poison of any snake. It is mainly found in white toadstools and, when ingested, affects the kidneys and liver, and then gradually kills all cells over several days.

The poison is very insidious: the first symptoms appear only after 12 hours, and sometimes up to a day. Of course, gastric lavage is then too late, you need to call an ambulance. Within two days, traces of amatoxin can be detected in the urine test. Activated charcoal and cephalosporin can also help the patient, and in especially difficult cases, one has to resort to a liver transplant. But even after the cure, the patient may still suffer from heart, kidney and liver failure for a long time.

A large dose of penicillin is used as an antidote; if it is not introduced, then a person dies on average per week

It is a poison of plant origin, most often used in the persecution of small rodents. It has been produced in the laboratory since 1818, extracting from the seeds of the African chilibukha plant. Strychnine is mentioned in many detective novels, where characters die from exposure to this substance. One of the properties of strychnine is also played up: at the very beginning, it causes a sharp and powerful surge of strength by blocking some neurotransmitters.

The substance is used in the manufacture of medicines, but preparations containing strychnine nitrate are prescribed only in the most extreme cases. Indirect indications for use may be neurological diseases in which nerve impulses are inhibited; poor appetite; impotence; severe forms of alcoholism that cannot be cured by other methods.

Symptoms of poisoning with this poison are similar to the primary symptoms of tetanus. These are difficulty breathing, chewing and swallowing, fear of light and convulsions.

A dose of 1 milligram per 1 kilogram of body weight leads to a lethal outcome.

The first information about mercury came to us from the depths of time, it is mentioned in documents from 350 BC, and archaeological excavations have found even more ancient traces. The metal was widely used and continues to be used in medicine, art, and industry. Its vapors are extremely toxic, and poisoning can be both instantaneous and cumulative. First of all, the nervous system is harmed, and then the rest of the body systems.

The initial symptoms of mercury poisoning are trembling of the fingers and eyelids, later - of all parts of the body. Then there are problems with the gastrointestinal tract, insomnia, headache, vomiting, memory impairment. In case of poisoning by vapors, and not by mercury compounds, the respiratory tract is initially noticed. If exposure to the substance is not stopped in a timely manner, it can lead to death.

The consequences of mercury poisoning can be inherited

Most often, a person encounters mercury from a thermometer, especially if it is broken. But not everyone knows exactly how to act in this situation. First you need to quickly collect all the parts of the thermometer and the balls of mercury. This must be done as carefully as possible, because the remaining particles can cause irreparable harm to residents, especially children and animals. This is done with rubber gloves. In hard-to-reach places, you can collect mercury with a syringe or patch. Put everything collected in a tightly closed container.

The next step is a thorough treatment of the premises, which is also carried out with gloves (already new) and a medical mask. A highly concentrated solution of potassium permanganate is suitable for processing. Wipe absolutely all surfaces in the house with this solution using a rag. Fill any gaps, cracks and other depressions with mortar. It is advisable to leave everything in this form for at least a day. For the next few days, ventilate the room daily.

You can call specialists who will make sure that there is no mercury and its vapors in the house if the thermometer is broken

Tetrodotoxin

The most effective defense mechanisms of those with which nature endowed living beings are neurotoxins. These are substances that specifically damage the nervous system. Tetrodotoxin is perhaps the most dangerous and unusual of them. It is found in a variety of both terrestrial and aquatic animals. The substance tightly blocks the channels of nerve cells, which causes muscle paralysis.

The most common poison was poisoned in Japan by eating fugu fish. It is surprising that today this fish is still used in cooking and is considered a delicacy - however, you need to know what parts are there and in what season to catch fish. Poisoning occurs extremely quickly, in some cases as early as six hours. It begins with a slight tingling of the lips and tongue, followed by vomiting and weakness, after which the patient falls into a coma. Effective emergency measures of assistance have not yet been developed. Only artificial respiration can prolong life, because before death, breathing first stops, and only after a while the heartbeat stops.

Tetrodotoxin has been studied for many years, but not all the details about it have been revealed yet.

The poisons described above have an extremely harmful effect on animal organisms, so extreme care must be taken when handling them. It is better if professionals do this.

Omega is a highly toxic substance that is part of the hemlock. Just 100 milligrams of it (8 leaves) will be enough to kill a person. Principle of operation: all systems of the body gradually fail, except for the brain. In total, you, being in your right mind, begin to slowly and painfully die until you suffocate.

The most popular hemlock was among the Greeks. Interesting fact: this plant caused the death of Socrates in 399 BC. The Greeks thus executed him for disrespect for the gods.

Source: wikipedia.org

№9 - Aconite

This poison is obtained from the wrestler plant. It causes an arrhythmia that ends in suffocation. They say that even touching this plant without gloves can end in death. It is almost impossible to detect traces of poison in the body. The most famous case of application - Emperor Claudius poisoned his wife Agrippina by adding aconite to her mushroom dish.

Source: wikipedia.org

No. 8 - Belladonna

In the Middle Ages, belladonna was used as a cosmetic for women (cheek blush). They even received special drops from the plant - to dilate the pupils (at that time it was considered fashionable). And you could also swallow the leaves of belladonna - one is just enough for a person to die. Berries are also not a miss: for death it is enough to eat only 10 pieces. From the latter in those days they made a special poisonous solution, which was used to lubricate arrowheads.

Source: wikipedia.org

No. 7 - Dimethylmercury

This is the slowest and most insidious killer. This is because even 0.1 milliliters that accidentally get on your skin will be enough for a fatal outcome. The most high-profile case: in 1996, a chemistry teacher from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire dropped a drop of poison on her hand. Dimethylmercury burned through a latex glove, symptoms of poisoning appeared after 4 months. And 10 months later, the scientist died.

Source: wikipedia.org

#6 - Tetrodotoxin

This poison is found in blue-ringed octopuses and pufferfish (fugu). Things are very bad with the first ones: octopuses deliberately attack their prey with tetrodotoxin, imperceptibly pricking it with special needles. Death occurs in a few minutes, but symptoms do not appear immediately - after paralysis sets in. The venom of one blue-ringed octopus is enough to kill 26 healthy men.

Fugu is easier: their poison is dangerous only when it is about to eat a fish. It all depends on the correctness of the preparation: if the cook is not mistaken, the tetrodoxin will all evaporate. And you will eat the dish without any consequences, except for the incredible adrenaline rush ...

Source: wikipedia.org

No. 5 - Polonium

Polonium is a radioactive poison for which there is no antidote. The substance is so dangerous that just 1 gram of it can kill 1.5 million people in a few months. The most sensational case of the use of polonium is the death of Alexander Litvinenko, an employee of the KGB-FSB. He died in 3 weeks, the reason - 200 grams of poison was found in his body.

Source: wikipedia.org

No. 4 - Mercury

1. elemental mercury - found in thermometers. Instant death occurs if it is breathed in;
2. inorganic mercury - used in the manufacture of batteries. Deadly if swallowed;
3. organic mercury. Sources are tuna and swordfish. It is recommended to eat them no more than 170 grams per month. Otherwise, organic mercury will begin to accumulate in the body.

The most famous use case is the poisoning of Amadeus Mozart. He was given mercury tablets to treat syphilis.

October 7th, 2009

If you want to be healthy - douse yourself, don't touch this rubbish, but it's better to bypass it altogether ...
The deadliest things on our planet.

Death cap- Destroying Angel. The first physical signs of poisoning are usually nausea, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. After feeling a little discomfort, there is a sharp pain in the abdomen, severe vomiting, intense thirst, and cyanosis of the limbs, as well as jaundice of the eyes and skin as a liver lesion. The patient remains conscious almost to the end, with brief intervals of loss of consciousness, then coma and death.

dog fish(Pufferfish). The poison tetraodontoxin is located in the ovaries of this fish and is not destroyed by heat treatment. When poisoned, speech is difficult, and paralysis of the respiratory system quickly develops, accompanied by paralysis of the central nervous system. The cause of death is most often convulsions or respiratory arrest, which occur within one to two hours after the poison enters the body.

castor oil- Castor Beans. Signs of poisoning - bitterness in the mouth, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, drowsiness, cyanosis, numbness, impaired microcirculation, blood in the urine, resulting in coma, and death; a poisonous agent, even in low concentrations, causes the dissolution of red blood cells, in serious cases, hemorrhages develop throughout the body. Castor oil can also lead to premature birth in pregnant women. Autopsies of patients who died from castor bean poisoning show that vomit and stools contain blood.

Belladonna. All parts of the plant are deadly poisonous, especially its roots, leaves, and berries. The poison paralyzes the parasympathetic nervous system, blocking the nerve endings.

Venom Viper. The venom of the snake affects the blood and nervous system, is less poisonous when it enters the mouth than the blood ... The victim of a viper bite bleeds from the wound, has a fever and chills. The poisoning is accompanied by swelling or hemorrhages above the elbows or knees. These signs usually appear within two hours of being bitten. Then fainting, bleeding from the nose and mouth, loss of vision, followed by loss of consciousness. Death caused by cardiorespiratory disorders is inevitable if an antidote is not administered in time.

Barbados nut or Physical nut. The threat lies in the deceptively pleasant taste of the seeds. However, make no mistake - each seed contains at least 55 percent of the active substance "Hell oil", which blocks protein synthesis in the intestinal wall and can lead to death.

hemlock. Signs of poisoning are a gradual loss of coordination followed by a fast and weak pulse, muscle pain as they atrophy and eventually die. Although the mind remains clear, vision often deteriorates until the victim dies as a result of paralysis of the lungs. It is believed that Socrates was poisoned with the juice of this particular plant, and not hemlock, as was previously believed.

Cobra venom It has mainly neurotoxic effects. His strength is enough to cause the death of a person after the first full bite. In such cases, the death rate can exceed 75 percent. However, taking into account all the features of the behavior of the king cobra, in general, only 10 percent of bites become fatal to humans.

Datura. All parts of the plant contain poisonous alkaloids. When it enters the gastrointestinal tract, it affects the nervous system, causing heart failure and paralysis.

Lily of the valley. It contains cardiac glycoside in a fairly high concentration, in small doses it stimulates the work of a weakened heart muscle, but in case of an overdose it leads to arrhythmias and blockade of the electrical conduction of the heart, which is necessary for its normal contractions. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Poisoning is manifested by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe headache pain and pain in the epigastric region. In severe cases, the rhythm and heart rate are disturbed, while the pulse, as a rule, becomes rare. Sometimes the nervous system is also affected. This is evidenced by agitation, visual disturbances, convulsions, loss of consciousness.

Aconite has a neurotoxic and cardiotoxic effect. Symptoms of poisoning are nausea, vomiting, numbness of the tongue, lips, cheeks, fingertips and toes, a feeling of crawling, a feeling of heat and cold in the extremities. Aconite intoxication is characterized by a transient visual impairment - the patient sees objects in green. Salivation is also noted, which is replaced by dryness of the oral cavity, thirst, headache, anxiety, convulsive twitching of the muscles of the face and limbs, loss of consciousness appear. Breathing is rapid, superficial, it can suddenly stop.

Rhododendron. They contain substances of a glucosidic nature - andromedotoxin, erikolin. Andromedotoxin has a local irritant and general narcotic effect, first exciting, then depressing the central nervous system; greatly upsets the activity of the heart, in a peculiar way, like veratrin, it affects the muscle. Poisoning develops very quickly. Often, within a few hours after eating the leaves and branches of rhododendron, death occurs.

tubocurarine chloride. White crystalline powder, in traumatology d-tubocurarine is sometimes used to relax muscles during reposition of fragments, reduction of complex dislocations ... Side effects from the use of tubocurarine are observed only with its overdose; in this case, the patient may develop respiratory failure due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles and, as a result, death.

Rhubarb. Rhubarb can only be eaten in early spring, until the air temperature rises above 15-17 ° C. In early spring, malic acid predominates in rhubarb, then its content increases, and with an increase in temperature in hot weather, oxalic acid accumulates in the petioles, which is harmful to the body: it forms poorly excreted salts and removes calcium contained in the blood. The consumption of oxalic acid immediately in the amount of 3-4 g is already dangerous not only for children, but also for adults. In case of poisoning, vomiting and convulsions, renal failure may occur. In the first two days, death can occur from asphyxia, shock, and cardiovascular insufficiency. In the next 2 weeks after poisoning, such severe complications as acute renal failure, repeated collapses, profuse bleeding, hemorrhagic pneumonia, and gastric perforation can occur, which can lead to a patient's death.

Gila monster- a large reptile, with a very beautiful black and orange pattern throughout the body. The Latin name for this beautiful lizard is Heloderma suspectum or gilatooth. There are grooves on the upper and lower jaws, to which the channels of highly developed poisonous glands fit. When bitten, the teeth go deep into the body of the victim. Venom stings are very painful and act almost the same as snake bites. The poison is neurotoxic, that is, when bitten, it paralyzes its prey. For small animals, lizard venom is deadly; in humans, it usually causes very severe swelling, but sometimes it can lead to death.

Croton oil is a liquid obtained from the seeds of the Croton tiglium plant. It has a strong laxative effect, irritates the skin and mucous membranes. Even in small quantities (over 20 drops) is life-threatening. Crotonal is toxic and mutagenic. When inhaled by a person, its vapors cause irritation of the mucous membrane, pharyngitis, cough, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, onset of shock or unconsciousness. Contact directly with the liquid leads to severe skin redness, irritation, pain and burns. When the poison gets inside, poisoning of the whole organism occurs, damage to the central nervous system, and the formation of tumors. In the case of tactile contact, scarring of the skin is formed.

Digitalis. Nowadays, foxglove purple is used for the production of medicines that stimulate the cardiovascular system. Active biological substances from foxglove tend to accumulate in the body and can be harmful or even fatal to a person with a healthy heart. The grass and rhizomes of foxglove are saturated with the toxin digitalin. Poisoning is accompanied by irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, the pulse becomes rapid and arrhythmic, general weakness and shortness of breath are observed. Perhaps the development of convulsions before death.

Codeine is an almost transparent, odorless substance with a rather bitter taste, which is available in either powder or liquid form. At high doses, like other opiates, it can cause euphoria. Often, when taking a large number of tablets of certain codeine-containing drugs, serious poisoning is possible. Due to the fact that with the regular use of codeine, the phenomenon of addiction is observed (similar to addiction to heroin and other drugs of the opiate group), it is released with the same restrictions as other narcotic analgesics. In severe poisoning with codeine, respiratory disorders are possible, up to paralysis with preserved consciousness, as well as a significant drop in blood pressure.

poisonous octopus(blue ringed octopus). Its poison, which belongs to the group of neurotoxins, is so powerful that it can kill an adult, especially if the octopus has bitten in the neck or in the area close to the spine. There is simply no vaccine for its poison.

dimethyl sulfate. Used in the manufacture of paints, drugs, perfumes, and pesticides, most dimethyl sulfate poisoning is due to leakage of liquid or vapours. Signs of poisoning will be more pronounced if alcohol is present. Nausea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, and headache occur. An increase in temperature, irritability, pain in the limbs, visual and hearing impairment, mental disorders are possible. In severe cases, tremor, ataxia, loss of consciousness, paroxysmal clonic-tonic convulsions resembling epileptic seizures, coma develop. Pathological anatomical examination reveals pronounced vascular disorders and degenerative changes in the parenchymal organs, brain and adrenal glands.

Nicotine. It is estimated that the lethal dose of nicotine for humans is 1 mg per 1 kg of body weight, i.e. about 50 - 70 mg for a teenager. Therefore, death can occur if a teenager smokes half a pack of cigarettes at the same time, because a whole pack contains exactly one lethal dose of nicotine.

Warty. A fish with a series of spikes on its back that release a poisonous toxin. It is the most dangerous poisonous fish known and its venom causes severe pain with possible shock, paralysis and tissue death depending on the depth of penetration. At the slightest irritation, the wart raises the spines of the dorsal fin; sharp and durable, they easily pierce the shoes of a person who accidentally stepped on a fish, and penetrate deep into the leg. With deep penetration, the injection can be fatal to a person if he is not provided with medical assistance within a few hours. If the thorn enters a large blood vessel, death can occur within 2-3 hours. Survivors sometimes get sick for months. The venom consists of a mixture of proteins, including the hemolytic stonustoxin, neurotoxin, and cardioactive cardioleptin. Survivors usually suffer localized nerve damage, sometimes leading to atrophy of the attached muscle tissue. The pain can be so severe that the victims of the injection want to cut off the injured limb.

hydrogen sulfide It is a colorless poisonous gas heavier than air with an unpleasant smell of rotten eggs. May be released during decay, accumulates in lowlands. Very toxic. At high concentrations, a single inhalation can cause instant death. At low concentrations, adaptation to the unpleasant smell of "rotten eggs" quickly occurs, and it ceases to be felt. There is a sweetish metallic taste in the mouth. The first symptom of acute poisoning is loss of smell. In the future, headache, dizziness and nausea appear. Sometimes after a while, sudden fainting occurs.

Oleander- a large evergreen shrub. All parts of the plant are poisonous, moreover, the smoke from the burned plant and the water in which the flowers stood are poisonous. The plant contains a number of cardiac glycosides (oleandrin, cornerin, etc.). Oleander juice, taken internally, causes severe colic in humans and animals, vomiting and diarrhea ... It also affects the nervous system (up to coma). Cardiac glycosides cause cardiac arrest.

phencyclidine(phencyclidine, PCP) - widely used in veterinary medicine for short-term immobilization of large animals. It is noted that it causes dissociated anesthesia. Phencyclidine is easy to synthesize. People who use phencyclidine are primarily young people and polydrug users. The true prevalence of phencyclidine addiction is unknown, however, according to national data, its cases in the United States have recently become more frequent. Phencyclidine is either taken orally, or smoked, or administered intravenously. It is also used as an additive to illegally sold deltatetrahydrocannabinol, LSD and cocaine. The most common artisanal drug, phencyclidine, is called angel dust. Low doses of phencyclidine (5 mg) cause restlessness, agitation, incoordination, dysarthria, and anesthesia. Horizontal and vertical nystagmus, hot flashes, profuse sweat, and hyperacusis are also possible. Psychiatric disorders include body schema disturbance, incoherent thinking, derealization, and depersonalization. Higher doses (5-10 mg) cause increased salivation, vomiting, myoclonus, pyrexia, stupor, and coma. At doses of 10 mg or more, phencyclidine causes epileptic seizures, opisthotonus, and decerebrate rigidity, which may be followed by prolonged coma. Acute psychosis caused by phencyclidine should be considered a psychiatric emergency with a high risk of suicide or violent crime.

Parathion(Parathion) - organophosphorus compound - pesticide; if it is inhaled, enters the gastrointestinal tract or absorbed through the skin, poisoning occurs. Like some other organophosphorus compounds, parathion acts on the cholinesterase enzyme, leading to overstimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system. Symptoms of poisoning are headaches, profuse sweating and salivation, lacrimation, vomiting, diarrhea and muscle spasms.

TEPP cholinesterase inhibitor-used mainly as insecticides and can cause poisoning. Symptoms - headache, loss of depth perception, convulsions, sweating, chest pain, shortness of breath, vomiting, general paralysis, involuntary urination and defecation, pressure drop, death.

yew tree. All parts of the plant are poisonous, except for the red fruits. The wood, bark and leaves of yew contain the alkaloid taxine and are therefore poisonous to humans and many other animals, although, for example, hares and deer eat yew willingly and without harm to themselves. The older the yew needles, the more poisonous it is.

Carbon tetrachloride(Carbon Tetrachloride) is a caustic volatile liquid used as a dry cleaner. When inhaled or swallowed, its vapors cause severe damage to the heart, liver and kidneys (for example, the patient may develop cirrhosis of the liver or kidney nephrosis), affects the optic nerve and some other nerves in the human body.

Strychnine- an alkaloid contained in the seeds of tropical plants of the genus strychnos. It has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, in toxic doses it causes characteristic tetanic convulsions ...

Clostridium botulinum(Clostridium botulinum) is a gram-positive bacterium of the genus Clostridium, the causative agent of botulism, a severe food intoxication caused by botulinum toxin and characterized by damage to the nervous system. Botulinum toxin accumulates in food products infected with C. botulunum spores during their germination, if anaerobic conditions are created (for example, during canning). For humans, botulinum toxin is the most potent bacterial poison, detrimental at a dose of 10-8 mg/kg. Spores of C. botulinum withstand boiling for 6 hours, sterilization at high pressure destroys them after 20 minutes, 10% hydrochloric acid after 1 hour, 50% formalin after 24 hours. Botulinum toxin type A (B) is completely destroyed by boiling for 25 minutes. The incubation period for botulism ranges from several hours to 2-5 days (rarely up to 10 days). On the first day, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea are noted. Further, neurosymptoms associated with damage to the nerve centers predominate: disturbance of accommodation, double vision, difficulty swallowing, aphonia. In severe forms of botulism, death occurs from respiratory paralysis, sometimes from sudden cardiac arrest.

Potassium cyanide- potassium salt of hydrocyanic acid, chemical formula KCN. Strong inorganic poison. When ingested, the lethal dose for humans is 1.7 mg/kg. Large doses are sometimes tolerated, slowing down the action is possible when the stomach is filled with food. Potassium cyanide is a powerful inhibitor. When it enters the body, it blocks the cellular enzyme cytochrome c oxidase, as a result of which the cells lose their ability to absorb oxygen from the blood and the body dies from interstitial hypoxia.

“Everything is poison, and nothing is without poison,

one dose makes the poison invisible "

Paracelsus

Dangerous First Aid Kit

Of course, it is no secret to anyone that all drugs are harmful to the human body to one degree or another. Opening the insert-instruction before buying an untried drug, many inquisitively study such paragraphs as: SIDE EFFECTS, CONTRAINDICATIONS or SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS. And, having found frightening items (indigestion, intestinal cramps, nausea, dizziness, skin rash, etc.), they put off the “dangerous” drug, which, by the way, was prescribed by a seemingly qualified doctor. Further, out of habit, or on the advice of a more experienced older generation, the choice falls on the old "time-tested" traditional medicines that our mothers and fathers, and maybe grandparents, drank. In pharmacies, these drugs are sold without instructions and in large quantities, which means that they “probably have almost no side effects.” Is it logical? It is guided by this logic that people quite often suffer from the so-called drug disease, sometimes leading to death.

Here, of course, it is worth making a reservation - about the imperfect health care system, about the non-adjusted system of social insurance, about the low standard of living of the population, etc. etc. Yes, all these factors, one way or another, push the patient to buy SOMETHING, which, in his opinion, will be both better and safer and of course cheaper than what the attending physician prescribed.

There are much more dangerous drugs, the sale of which should be restricted, than will be listed in the article. But here we will try to identify the most insidious and popular "poisons" from a dangerous home kit.

1. It is among the leaders in sales in many CIS countries. It is often dispensed in pharmacies without a prescription and without instructions, which, by the way, indicate side effects: leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, allergic reactions, and more. Analgin is quite toxic. Today it is banned for sale even in third world countries, not to mention European countries. In Sweden, for example, Analgin was banned back in 1974.

   I remember two cases:

   My stepfather told me about the first. Back in the 80s, a school teacher in one of the schools in the Izyumsky district of the Kharkov region took 4 tablets of analgin for toothache. The outcome is death.

   The second case was told to me by a very nice elderly woman from Evpatoria. After examining her bedridden mother (at that time she was over 90 years old!), the doctor advised taking 2 tablets of Analgin 4 times a day for a cold, and wrote in the prescription: 1 tablet 2 times a day. After a tough conversation with predilection, the doctor admitted that he wanted to “help” and end the suffering of an elderly woman, for which he was immediately lowered down the stairs by my friend.

   And if you scroll through the news archives on request: “Death from Analgin”, you can see the following: “A nurse was sentenced to a year in prison for the death of a patient from analgin”, “A 10-month-old child died from an overdose of analgin”, “The death of a ten-year-old girl after an injection of analgin " and so on. This is a roundup of news from the past few years. And how many such cases have been since Analgin began to be used in medical practice, we can only guess.

   Also, Analgin (aka Metamizole sodium) is included in many combined painkillers: Baralgetas, Tempalgin, Spazgan, Renalgan, etc.

2. Corvalol (Barboval, Corvaldin or Valocordin)

   Very fond of our people "natural" "safe" droplets for the heart. In addition to bromoisovaleric acid ester and other natural oils, it contains Phenobarbital which, firstly: does not have any therapeutic effect on the heart; secondly: it depresses the central nervous activity, one might say, dulls the mind and masks the symptoms of diseases of the cardiovascular system; and thirdly: it is addictive, which sometimes leads to an increase in dosage. The use of Phenobarbital is prohibited in many countries. Draw your own conclusions.

3. or a leaf of the Seine

   "Penny" laxative. Natural means “safe”, which means you can be treated with it constantly and, if it doesn’t help, take several pills. As sad as it may be for some, this is a completely natural logical chain.

   In practice, Senadexin, with prolonged and regular use (more than a year), can lead to dehydration, impaired water and electrolyte balance and intestinal diseases. It is especially dangerous to combine Senadexin with diuretics (with Furosemide, Lasix, Arifon or Indapamide.)

4. Phenigidine (Nifedipine)

   It belongs to the group of calcium channel blockers. It is used to lower blood pressure, prevent angina pectoris. What is the danger of Nifedipine? Let's figure it out in order.

   Today, pharmacology approaches the issue of lowering blood pressure very carefully. Modern antihypertensive drugs are usually taken once, maximum twice a day, the pressure is lowered gradually, sometimes the effect can be observed only a week after the start of therapy. If the treatment regimen is chosen correctly, these drugs are drunk regularly, without interruption. Phenigidine (Nifedipine), unlike modern drugs, rather sharply lowers blood pressure and acts for a short time. What follows from this? With a sharp decrease in blood pressure, the body turns on a compensatory mechanism, that is, it tries to slightly increase the pressure. At this moment, Nifedipine stops its action (the period of action of Nifedipine is only 3-4 hours) and blood pressure jumps to a critical level, higher than it was before taking the drug, as a result, a hypertensive crisis may develop. This phenomenon is called rebound syndrome. In Western countries, Nifedipine has a rather limited use and is used only in the form of slowly soluble forms: Osmo Adalat (Germany), Nicardia retard (India). That is, after taking a slowly soluble form of nifedipine, blood pressure will not drop sharply, respectively, the rebound syndrome can be avoided.

5 and 6. Raunatin and Adelfan

Another group of drugs for pressure. Adelfan has not been used in world medical practice for a long time, for which it is a dime a dozen in our pharmacies. What's the catch? After all, the base is again “natural” - the alkaloids of the Rauwolfia plant.

It turns out that with long-term treatment of high blood pressure with Rauwolfia preparations, renal blood flow worsens, hence renal failure, hence fluid retention in the body, hence the subsequent increase in pressure. Here is such a paradoxical vicious circle, the use of Raunatin or Adelfan at elevated pressure, leads, over time, to an increase in pressure, in addition, kidney function worsens.

1. Echinacea tincture

   It is known to many as a good, most importantly natural, and therefore “safe” immunostimulant. Not many people know that long-term use of Echinacea contributes to the disruption of the nervous system, and, most interestingly, to the “addiction” of the immune system. That is, as long as we regularly take Echinacea, the effect seems to be there, the body's resistance is good. But as soon as we stop Echinacea, colds and flu will hit with a double force.

2. Especially dangerous in infancy. Some pediatricians still like to prescribe diazolin to babies for colds and SARS (obviously old school). Diazolin, having a hypnotic effect, also depresses the central nervous activity, there is lethargy, drowsiness. In general, the normal physiological development of the child's body is disturbed.

3. Levomycetin

   For some reason, the stereotype about the miraculous power of this drug in the treatment of various intestinal infections is still rooted. Although if you look, then Levomycetin has a rather narrow scope. And if we start to treat indigestion, then it is better with sorbents and Nifuroxazide. The most important thing is that taking Levomycetin can lead to severe bone marrow dysfunction and even leukemia.

4. Eufilin

   Eufilin (aka Aminophilin, Teotard) closes the top ten dangerous drugs, but by no means the last drug, the use of which can have serious consequences. What is the danger of using Eufilin? After all, until recently, it was widely used to treat bronchial asthma and bronchial obstruction, and some patients and doctors still use it. The answer to this question can be found in the official instructions, where it is written USE WITH CAUTION IN ACUTE PHASE OF MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION OR ANGINA.
   Angina pectoris (or angina pectoris) - a sudden feeling of pain behind the sternum, the pain usually spreads to the left arm, jaw and neck. The reason for the development of angina pectoris is due to the "oxygen starvation" of the heart muscle, that is, the discrepancy between the need of the heart and its work.

   Let's take a closer look at the symptoms of angina pectoris. In addition to acute pain syndrome, angina pectoris can also be accompanied by breathlessness. Thus, the body, as it were, is trying to make up for the oxygen starvation of the heart muscle.

   Now let's look at an example. The patient developed angina oxygen deprivation of the heart) accompanied by severe dyspnoea. Further, due to a misunderstanding, Eufilin is taken, based on the logic that Eufilin expands the bronchi, thereby helping the body cope with oxygen starvation and relieve an attack of shortness of breath. BUT again, according to the official instructions, Eufilin, in addition to its bronchodilatory effect, also stimulates cardiac activity, increases the frequency and strength of heart contractions, and thereby INCREASES THE REQUIREMENT OF THE HEART MUSCLE FOR OXYGEN. Thus, with improper use of Eufilin, the oxygen starvation of the heart increases. This therapy, ultimately, will only complicate the general condition of the patient, and may lead to more serious consequences.

In the article "Dangerous First Aid Kit" we tried to shed light only on the most popular, everyday drugs that are fraught with real danger. In fact, the list of dangerous drugs is much longer. Self-medication and irrational use of medicines are even more dangerous.

Foods and drinks that are familiar to us can be deadly. And the simplest items contain poison. It turns out that the most powerful poisons are sometimes next to us, and we do not even know about it.

Dangerous Poisons

Mercury. Everyone at home has the most common item - a mercury thermometer. It turns out that if mercury from two or three thermometers is poured into a medium-sized room, then this will already be enough to cause serious poisoning. True, elemental mercury itself is not dangerous, its vapors are dangerous, and it begins to evaporate already at room temperature. In addition to thermometers, the same type of mercury is found in fluorescent lamps. So be careful with them.

Snake poison. There are more than two and a half thousand species of reptiles, but only about 250 species are poisonous among them. The most famous are common vipers, cobras, rattlesnakes, black mambas, small sand snakes.

People have long found out that snake venom is dangerous only when it enters human blood. And, since humanity has been dealing with snakes for many millennia, it is not surprising that it was when studying the effects of snake venom on the organisms of animals and people in 1895 that they created the first antidote - anti-snake serum. By the way, there is no universal antidote even in case of poisoning with snake venom, for each type of snake, its own antitoxin is created - for the king cobra - one, for vipers - another, for rattlesnakes - the third.

The fastest poison

You can get poisoned with cyanide not only by ingestion, but also by inhalation, by touching. Potassium cyanide is found in some plants and foods, as well as cigarettes. It is used in the extraction of gold from ore. Kills cyanide by binding iron in blood cells, thereby preventing them from delivering oxygen to vital organs.

You can determine cyanides using a solution of ferric salts

By the way, they tried to poison Grigory Rasputin with potassium cyanide, but they could not, because they added poison to the sweet pie. Glucose is an antidote for potassium cyanide.

The most accessible poisons

Although the Germans have learned how to cook fly agarics in such a way that they do not poison them, it is true that it takes them a lot of time to cook these mushrooms - they boil them for a day. True, the question arises - why do they need fly agaric when you can just take other mushrooms for food? And of course, you need to remember the rules for storing cooked mushrooms, even edible mushrooms can become poisonous if the shelf life is violated.

Ordinary potatoes or bread can also be poisonous. In case of improper storage, the substance solanine accumulates in potatoes, causing poisoning of the body. And bread becomes poisonous if flour was taken to make it, into which cereals infected with ergot got into. We are not talking about fatal poisoning, but it is quite possible to spoil the health of such products.

In addition, there are many household chemicals and fertilizers that can also be poisonous. For example, potassium chloride is the most common fertilizer, but when it enters the bloodstream, it becomes deadly, as potassium ions block the activity of the heart.

most famous poison

There is also strychnine, a white powder that is sometimes used as an ingredient in some drugs (such as heroin and cocaine). Although much more often it is used in the manufacture of pesticides. To obtain this powder, the seeds of the chilibukha tree are taken, whose birthplace is Southeast Asia and India.

But the most famous poison is, of course, arsenic, it can be called "royal poison". It has been used since ancient times (its use is attributed to Caligula) to eliminate their enemies and competitors in the struggle for the throne, no matter papal or royal. It is the favorite poison of the European nobility in the Middle Ages.

The most famous poisoners

Of natural poisons, batrachotoxin is very dangerous, it is secreted by the skin of small but dangerous amphibians - poison dart frogs, fortunately, they can only be found in Colombia. One such frog contains so much poisonous substance that it is enough to destroy several elephants.

In addition, there are radioactive poisons, such as polonium. It acts slowly, but only 1 gram of this substance is needed to destroy one and a half million people. Snake venom, curare, potassium cyanide - they are all inferior to the above poisons.

It's not just snakes that are venomous. As the editors of the site managed to find out, the most poisonous creature on Earth is a jellyfish.
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