Hemlock

• Hemlock is a very poisonous herbacious plant that grows near streams and ditches in Britain, Europe and North Africa.

Use in Ancient Greece and Rome

• In Ancient Greece, Hemlock was administered as the ‘State Poison’, and used to execute Socrates.
• Hemlock was one of the poisons favoured by the Roman Poisoner Locusta and her associates.

Hemlock Poisoning

• Within 15-30 minutes, the initial symptoms are nausea, vomiting, pain and loss of feeling in certain limbs.
• This is followed by series of worsening involuntary seizures, with death resulting from respiratory failure within 2-3 hours.

Other Poisons

• Arsenic

Pontine Marshes