Funtabulously Frivolous Friday Five 247
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Just when you thought your brain could unwind on a Friday, you realise that it would rather be challenged with some good old fashioned medical trivia FFFF…introducing Funtabulously Frivolous Friday Five 247 (with a little art contribution from Dr Michelle Johnston)
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Question 1
What is the poison that Socrates is about to voluntarily consume?
http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436105
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Crushed Hemlock
The hemlock that Socrates was purported to having drunk likely came from the alkaloid Conium Maculatim, which is a progressive neuromuscular toxin, in a curare like fashion. This is consistent with Plato’s description (he’s the chap seated at the foot of the bed, parchment in hand, in Jacques Louis David’s famous painting of 1786). According to Plato, Socrates’ legs “began to feel heavy, whereby he lay down on his back and the sensation left his feet and his legs: as the poison moved upwards and reached his chest, he lost consciousness and his breathing slowed until he was dead”. ‘Twas a common executioner’s tool of the day.
It is interesting the discrepancy ...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Neil Long Tags: Frivolous Friday Five Aorta brown sequard epilepsy hemlock Jacques Louis David Joseph Lawrence joseph lister Listerine Marat Socrates stabbing Source Type: blogs
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