Death Metal

Colorless, odorless, tasteless-arsenic is what attracted the Italian Renaissance family Borgias to this style of poison. The Borgias were known for being skilled in covert murder. Much like Giulia Tofana who operated in 17th c. Rome. Giulia Tofana selling her "Aqua" or "Manna of St. Nicholas of Bari" made of lead, arsenic and belladonna to affluent wives. Sold under the auspices of being a cosmetic and a devotionary object, however most who bought the tincture intended on becoming wealthy widows. Arsenic was called the poudre de succession or powder of succession helped the ambitious prematurely acquire empires. Small amounts could be expressed in breast milk. No more pesky heirs. It is suspected that Napoleon was poisoned with arsenic. He died at a place called Longwood House on an island named St. Helena. The walls of this particular house were painted with Scheele's green, an arsenic compound called copper arsenide. Evidently when the walls get moldy arsenic is released into the air. Clare Boothe Luce, the American ambassador to Italy, died of arsenic poisoning in the 1950s. They figured out it was caused by paint chips falling from the stucco roses on the ceiling in her bedroom. from an article by Cathy Newman
, National Geographic magazine