The Poisoner's Handbook (2014)

 

 

 

The Poisoner’s Handbook is a documentary film which premiered on US television (PBS) in 2014.

 

It is an episode of the long-running program American Experience (season 26, episode 01).

 

This film – whose title is misleading and unfortunate - covers two important topics which are closely connected with each other:

 

** The use and abuse of modern science and technology

** The introduction of forensic science in criminal investigations

 

Here is some basic information about this film:

 

** Producer and director: Rob Rapley

** Writer: Michelle Ferrari

** Narrator: Oliver Platt

** Based on the book The Poisoner’s Handbook by Deborah Blum (2010)

** Run time: 113 minutes

 

Several persons are interviewed in the film. Here are the names in alphabetical order:

 

** Michael M. Baden – a forensic pathologist

** Deborah Blum – a writer – the film is based on her book published in 2010

** Colin Evans – a writer – author of The Father of Forensics (2006) and Blood on the Table (2008)

** Marcella Fiero – a forensic pathologist

** David Krajicek – a writer

** Michael Turner – a historian

 

The story is set in the US, more precisely in New York City. The time is the first half of the 20th century, more precisely the years 1918-1936.

 

Several historical scenes have been re-created using modern actors. Numerous characters appear once or twice. I will not mention them here, because the complete list is too long. I will only mention two characters who appear in numerous scenes:

 

** Don Sparks as the New York Medical Examiner Charles Norris (1867-1935)

** Chris Bowers as the New York toxicologist Alexander Gettler (1883-1968)

 

Apart from a brief prologue and a brief epilogue, the film is divided into nine chapters; one chapter for each of the eight types of poison which are presented and discussed in the film. One type appears two times. Here is the list:

 

# 1. Cyanide

# 2. Arsenic

# 3. Methanol

# 4. Lead

# 5. Carbon Monoxide

# 6. Denatured Alcohol

# 7. Radium

# 8. Thallium

# 9. Arsenic

 

In some cases, a poison is used on purpose; for instance, when one person wants to kill another person. This can be the case with items # 1, 2, 8 and 9 (cyanide, arsenic and thallium).

 

In other cases, a poison is not used in order to kill someone. In these cases, the poisoning is an accidental and most unfortunate side-effect. This may happen when a poison is used for commercial or industrial purposes.

 

This did happen with the following items:

 

# 3. Methanol

# 4. Lead

# 5. Carbon Monoxide

# 6. Denatured Alcohol

# 7. Radium

 

Regarding item # 4

Lead was added to gasoline for cars. It was called Ethyl Gas. A car engine likes ethyl gas. But adding lead to gasoline is not a good idea, because it is poisonous. Lead had to be removed, because it was dangerous to the people who came into close contact with it!

 

Regarding items # 3 and 6

Methanol and Denatured Alcohol are connected with the history of prohibition when the buying and selling of alcohol was banned in the US (1920-1933).

 

Bootleggers knew there was a strong demand for alcohol and that some customers were willing to try anything. 

 

Some people bought and drank poisoned alcohol which was not a good idea!

 

Regarding item # 7

Radium is connected with the history of the Radium Girls who had an unusual job: they painted the dial of clocks and watches with radium. The clock and the watch would glow in the dark, but the radium used to paint the dial was dangerous to the workers who came into close contact with it.

 

The young women who worked in American radium factories did not know the truth about this substance. They were told it was harmless, perhaps even beneficial. The truth is they were slowly poisoning themselves!

 

The owners of the factories knew the substance was dangerous, but they did not inform their workers. They kept it a secret. They did not ask the workers to take precautions when working with radium.

 

When a worker was taken ill, the managers claimed they had no responsibility for what was happening. The managers did not care about the health and safety of the workers, as long as the company was making a profit.

 

CONCLUSION

Scientific discoveries and technological inventions can be a blessing, but sometimes they can also be a curse.

 

This film shows how science and technology can be used as well as abused.

 

New York Medical Examiner Charles Norris and toxicologist Alexander Gettler were pioneers in the field of forensic science. This film is a tribute to the important role they played in the development of this field.

 

If you are interested in the history of the modern world – in particular the history of criminal investigations – this film is definitely something for you.

 

REFERENCES

 

Regarding Methanol and Denatured Alcohol

** Prohibition (2011) – a documentary series in three parts directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick

** Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine and the Lawless Years of Prohibition by Karen Blumenthal (2011)

** Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition by Daniel Okrent (2011)

** Smugglers, Bootleggers and Scofflaws: Prohibition and New York City by Ellen NicKenzie Lawson (2013)

 

Regarding Radium

** Radium City (1987) – a documentary film

** Radium Girls (2018) – a historical drama based on true events

** The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore (2018)

** The Society of the Living Dead: The Illustrated History of Ottawa’s Radium Dial Scandal by Jim Ridings (2020)

** Deadly Glow: The Radium Dial Worker Tragedy by Ross Mueller (1999)

** Radium Girls: Women & Industrial Health Reform, 1910-1935 by Claudia Clark (1997)

 

Regarding forensic science in general

** A Question of Evidence: The Casebook of Great Forensic Controversies from Napoleon to O.J. by Colin Evans (2003)

** Written in Blood: A History of Forensic Science by Mike Silverman and Tony Thompson (2014)

 

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The Poisoner's Handbook

by Deborah Blum 

(2010)

 

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Charles Norris (1867-1935)

Medical Examiner of New York

 

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Alexander Gettler (1883-1968)

Toxicologist

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