History of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Toxicology in Antiquity, Vol. II

Chapter 1. Murder, Execution, and Suicide in Ancient Greece and Rome
Chapter 2. Chemical and Biological Warfare in Antiquity
Chapter 3. Anthropogenic Air Pollution in Ancient Times
Chapter 4. Poisoning in Ancient Rome: The Legal Framework, The Nature of Poisons, and Gender Stereotypes
Chapter 5. Asclepius and the Snake as Toxicological Symbols in Ancient Greece and Rome
Chapter 6. Drugs, Suppositories, and Cult Worship in Antiquity
Chapter 7. Kohl Use in Antiquity: Effects on the Eye
Chapter 8. “Gleaming and Deadly White”: Toxic Cosmetics in the Roman World
Chapter 9. Poisonous Medicine in Ancient China
Chapter 10. The Venomous Virgin: Fact or Fantasy?
Chapter 11. Mushroom Intoxication in Mesoamerica
Chapter 12. Entheogens in Ancient Times: Wine and the Rituals of Dionysus
Chapter 13. Entheogens (Psychedelic Drugs) and the Ancient Mystery Religions

This volume, Toxicology in Antiquity II, continues to tell the story of the roots of toxicology in ancient times. Readers learn that before scientific research methods were developed, toxicology thrived as a very practical discipline. Toxicologists are particularly proud of the rich and storied history of their field and there are few resources available that cover the discipline from a historical perspective. People living in ancient civilizations readily learned to distinguish safe from hazardous substances, how to avoid these hazardous substances and how to use them to inflict harm on enemies. Volume II explores the use of poison as weapons in war and assassinations, early instances of air pollution, the use of hallucinogens and entheogens, and the role of the snake in ancient toxicology.

Key Features

• Provides the historical background for understanding modern toxicology
• Illustrates the ways ancient civilizations learned to distinguish safe from hazardous substances, how to avoid the hazardous substances and how to use them against enemies
• Details scholars who compiled compendia of toxic agents

Readership
Toxicologists, environmental health professionals, science historians, general audience.