Toxic History!

The One Man Environmental Disaster

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:54:26 GMT

If you were to make a list of the people who have most shaped the world as we know it, Thomas Midgley, Jr. probably wouldn’t crack the top 50. Yet his influence has directly and indirectly touched the lives of billions across the last century and indeed continues to be felt to this day. Listen in to hear about the man who was responsible for developing not one but TWO of history’s worst toxins.

Firefly Toxicosis in a Bearded Dragon

Wed, 13 May 2026 16:12:56 GMT

Watching fireflies on a summer evening is one of the joys of the season. However, a fireflies light harbors a secret, and that secret can kill.

MK Ultra

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:49:08 GMT

Conspiracy theory….or conspiracy fact? MK Ultra was one of the most controversial government programs that engaged in mind blowing atrocities. Let’s go down the rabbit hole together and explore what is known about the history of this program…and perhaps consider if aspects of it may still exist today!

Cat Killer in the Courtroom: The Story of Dr. Robert Buchanan

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:54:27 GMT

Dr. Robert Buchanan’s murder trial captivated the public with its shocking details and gruesome display. Take a deep dive into the tragic story of this physician, where, not one, but two innocent lives were caught in the wake of one man’s pride.

Bromism - A Brief Narrative History without the Bromides

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 18:55:39 GMT

From controlling libido to epilepsy, bromides surged in popularity but experienced an equally precipitous decline in 19th century medicine. As the paradigm of disease explanation progressed from humors to pathology, bromides established a therapeutic foothold during this revolutionary period. What followed, however, were urban myths and consequences of toxicological significance. Used so ubiquitously, bromides earned a place in the colloquial lexicon as remarks repeated with such frequency that they become cliché or trite. Yet, this exploration on bromism promises to be anything but.

Do Unto Myself as I would Do Unto Others

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 19:20:51 GMT

There is a long, perhaps to be forgotten, history of clinicians performing observational n=1 studies upon themselves to “prove” their safety and efficacy of the proposed therapy. The talk is to describe toxicology-related examples of this now discouraged practice.

The FDA and the Homeopathy Loophole

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 14:02:04 GMT

The episode traces how the FDA evolved from a modest watchdog born of early 20th-century drug tragedies into a powerful regulatory agency, highlighting key reforms that reshaped American medicine. It then unpacks the long-standing “homeopathy loophole,” explaining how a century-old provision allowed homeopathic remedies to bypass modern scientific standards and why that exemption still fuels debate today.

Toxic Murderer Dr William Palmer

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 21:21:42 GMT

Dr. William Palmer, surgeon, gambler, toxic murderer. The historical account of Dr Palmer and the events that made him a notorious serial killer.

One Drop

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 17:26:40 GMT

Karen Wetterhahn, a super star organic chemist at Dartmouth College who worked on heavy metal toxicity, presented to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Memorial Hospital on January, 20th 1997. She was profoundly ill, and shortly lapsed into a coma. Her records were scoured and her medical team was able to trace her symptoms back to a single exposure she had received 6 months earlier in her laboratory.

Bluer than Velvet

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 18:52:47 GMT

Methylene blue is a vividly blue dye that holds the distinction of being the first fully synthetic medication to be given to human beings, and played a major part in the scientific advances of the late 19th century. Its almost unnatural hue belies its modern use as a life-saving antidote to methemoglobinemia.

Folklore, Fact, and the Manchineel Tree

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 19:50:29 GMT

Apples have been associated being forbidden fruit and source of nefarious poisonings all throughout folklore. This presentation delves into whether there is any historical legitimacy to these tales, and if we have anything to fear when it comes to an apple a day.

Radiant Tragedy

Tue, 27 May 2025 15:31:33 GMT

Join us as we discuss the history of the radium craze in the early 1900s and how its early popularity led to the tragic demise of many young women who worked as radium dial painters. Their story helped establish the field of medical physics and led to important legislation aimed at the protection of the health and safety of workers.

The Deadly Art of Seeing Green

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 13:47:37 GMT

The goal of bringing the full color spectrum onto the canvas is important to artists but many of the early compounds had significant toxicity. The talk will discuss the adverse effects from some of the heavy metals found in early pigments.

The Mary Lafarge Affair: How the ‘King of Poisons’ Lost its Crown

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 03:03:18 GMT

Arsenic, known since antiquity as the ‘king of poisons’, gained infamy among nobility and the bourgeoisie as a public menace. Synonymous with crimes of ‘fashion’, arsenic poisoning was the silent killer and a nearly untraceable means of murder. It wasn’t until early 19th century France that the poudre de succession met its match, ushering in a revolution in forensic toxicology with the ‘chief terror of poisoners’.

Witchcraft, Werewolves, and Flying Ointment

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:35:50 GMT

This presentation delves into the toxicological roots of the infamous Witch Trials and other historical confessions of witchcraft and lycanthropy. Discover how the use of plants like belladonna and datura contributed to vivid hallucinations, leading individuals to believe in supernatural experiences, all while unaware that they were under the influence of potent deliriants.

The 1943 Bombing of Bari and the Development of Alkylating Chemotherapeutics

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 14:03:55 GMT

The German bombing of Bari, Italy in December 1943 had disastrous consequences for the Allies. Learn more about the mysterious cargo in the port that day, the Allied cover-up that followed, and the diligent detective work that contributed to the discovery of modern cancer therapy.

The Hawks Nest Tunnel Disaster

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 16:35:12 GMT

Construction of the Hawks Nest Tunnel was one of the worst occupational disasters in American history. Its construction resulted in large numbers of casualties, both acute and chronic, secondary to silicosis and other occupational related illnesses.

King George III, Manic Monarch or Noxious Nostrums?

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 21:19:51 GMT

Explore the medical history of King George III, a monarch whose reign was marked by brilliance, chaos, and the shadow of madness. This toxicological exploration unveils the personal struggles behind the politics, from the medical records of his time to contemporary interpretations and possibilities.

Doping in the Early Olympic Marathons

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 17:53:58 GMT

There has been doping in sport throughout modern times, but before the steroid era athletes used different agents to enhance their performance. Learn about how strychnine use in the 1904 and 1908 Olympic marathons may have propelled runners to victory.

The Frozen Addicts

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 22:44:33 GMT

In 1983 patients began presenting with sudden onset Parkinsonian symptoms after using a new designer drug. Dr. Langston eventually was able to link the cases to exposure to the contaminant MPTP, and the future of Parkinson’s research was forever changed as a result.

Mining, Water, Rice, and Bone Pain

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 19:22:12 GMT

Rice, a staple food for a large portion of the world population, has been documented to have been cultivated, grown, and consumed for thousands of years. For those living around the Jinzu river in Toyama Prefecture in Japan in the early 1900s, rice and water consumption caused a pollution disease called “Itai-Itai disease”. Bone and join pains and kidney disease were ever increasing around this region of Japan, and it wasn’t until the 1950s that cadmium was suspected as the primary culprit.

Abortifacients, a Historical Perspective

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 12:00:02 GMT

Throughout history, women have sought to control their fertility with substances that “regulate” menstruation, terminate pregnancies, or induce labor. Teas, concoctions, and medicinal compounds containing pennyroyal, rue, artemsia, ergot, cohosh, quinine, and lead have caused significant toxicity and death when taken as abortifacients. In this talk we will explore the history of abortifacients from antiquity through modern times, and discuss cases of toxicity through the lens of the women who have utilized these remedies.

I've Been to Dwight

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 17:56:15 GMT

This is the story of Dr. Leslie Keeley and his gold cure elixir. His Keeley Institute in a small midwestern town was perhaps the most widely recognized alcohol treatment program in the United States in the 1890s. Although his elixir may have been no more than snake oil his treatment program foreshadowed treatment as we know it today.

Laboratory X

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 18:16:42 GMT

State-sponsored poisoning and assassination is deeply ingrained in Russian politics. You’ve heard of Alexander Litvinenko, but where was the poison and delivery plan developed? And who were the other victims of Moscow’s poison laboratory?

A Stable Head with a Broken Heart

Tue, 21 May 2024 11:25:04 GMT

Drinkers asked for a bigger and more stable head and the brewers came up with a novel solution. The heaviest drinkers that couldn’t even afford a cup to pour their beer into and see a head started to mysteriously die of heart failure. An investigation begins!

The Thalidomide Tragedy and a Path to Safer Drugs

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 23:34:26 GMT

As one of the largest man made disasters in public health history, the discovery and realization of the disastrous effects of thalidomide in pregnant patients has paved a way to safe medication discovery and utilization. From this tragedy in modern medicine led new regulatory pathways, transparency in drug development, and expanded procedures to ensure therapeutic medication supply is not only effective, but safe.

Botulinum Antitoxin

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 14:08:31 GMT

Our long history of attempting to find a treatment for botulism is a winding road of discovery, setbacks, and the constant challenge of balancing risk and benefit. Through major outbreaks that seized the nation’s attention and the disruption of major wars, however, the spirit of science and humanity prevailed, bringing us a therapy to help us in our ongoing fight.

Beyond Bicycle Day: The Story of Albert Hofmann and the Discovery of LSD

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:34:03 GMT

This talk will describe the early career of Albert Hofmann, his accidental discovery of the hallucinogenic properties of LSD-25, his legendary bicycle ride home from work during an LSD trip, and the legacy of his discovery.

Did psychedelics fuel the space race? Counter culture, the occult, and mind-altering before LSD

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:05:38 GMT

The discovery of LSD and the subsequent psychedelic renaissance of the mid-20th century hold ample space in history books, but Albert Hofmann didn’t discover the first mind-altering chemical. At the turn of the 20th century, natural psychedelics’ ancient power crossed continents to shape both cultural and technological development.

The Elixir of Death

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 18:25:19 GMT

Want to know what toxic medicine has killed thousands of people? Why outbreaks keep happening? And how it started the modern FDA? Listen Dr. Prosser's Toxic History episode to find out!

Radithor Radioactive Water

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 18:23:17 GMT

In the 1920s and 1930s, radium was an exciting new material. It was used to illuminate watch dials in the dark, treat tumors, and also as a primary ingredient in quack medical remedies. This is the story of Radithor, a fake medicine containing radium.

The Salem Witch Trials and the Ergot Hypothesis

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 15:46:14 GMT

The Salem witch trials of the early 1690s were the most notorious and lethal witch hunt in American history. At the heart of the trials, the Village of Salem was a town at its boiling point, but the complex political and social factors at play still seem insufficient to explain the happenings that ultimately transpired. Could it be that the affliction at the heart of Salem, the proximate cause of all the death and despair, was caused by a fungus?

Bringing Deadly Sleepe: A Review of Selected Pre-1900s Toxicology Literature

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 00:57:12 GMT

Toxicology is full of treatments which are poorly supported by literature. Many of those treatments originated over 100 years ago. If you think data are bad now, we invite you to see what treatments were like in the past – drawn from the pages of multiple historical toxicology textbooks.

Dioxin and the Poisoning of Viktor Yushchenko

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 00:38:34 GMT

Dioxins are a category of persistent organic pollutant (POP), with a long history of human exposure and serious adverse health and environmental effects. Where did this forever chemical come from, and how did it end up in the dinner of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko in 2004? Join us as we discuss the long-lasting legacy of this class of compounds that was banned in 2001, but remains forever in our hearts (and lipid tissues, and ecosystem).

Twisted Sister, a Widow's Intrigue

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 17:52:16 GMT

Springtime at the turn of the 20th century promised rebirth, hope, and prosperity in America. But in northern Michigan, a twisted nightmare was consuming an idyllic community. An infant was found deceased in a crib, the mother succumbing within the next hour, and the father only days later. Some feared a curse, others speculated a contagion. An intrepid duo of sheriff and attorney left no stone unturned, with suspicions centering around a widow in a black dress.

The Birds and The Brains: Domoic Acid Poisoning

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 14:46:11 GMT

Join Dr. Marlis Gnirke on a “trip” to 1960s California discussing a different kind of acid, one at the intersection of human toxicology, veterinary toxicology, and classic cinema.

Counting Sheep in Skull Valley

Fri, 12 May 2023 16:39:04 GMT

Dr. Sukhi Atti discusses the history of the release of nerve agent VX in Skull Valley, Utah.

The Ordeal Bean

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 20:06:41 GMT

Dr. Laurén Murphy discusses the history of physostigmine - from bean to medicine.

The mysterious intermittent history of the fentanyl epidemics

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 22:52:23 GMT

Dr. Stephanie Weiss describes the history of the fentanyl epidemics in the USA.

Toxic Grains

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 16:24:19 GMT

Dr. Peter Akpunonu discusses the history of the toxic grain disaster in Iraq.

The Chicago Tylenol Murders

Sat, 31 Dec 2022 18:54:32 GMT

Dr. Alan Woolf discusses the toxicological history of the Chicago Tylenol Murders.

The Toxic Woman

Sat, 12 Nov 2022 21:58:45 GMT

Dr. Alex Harding describes the history of "The Toxic Woman."

Toxicology and Classical Music

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 18:26:41 GMT

Dr. Sing-Yi Feng discusses the toxic history of classical music with guest host Dr. Keahi Horowitz.

Birds, Brains, and Beri Beri

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 19:47:13 GMT

Dr. Joshua Bloom tells the history of the Nobel-prize winning research that led to the cure for Beri Beri.

The Angel Makers of Nagyrev

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 13:12:15 GMT

Dr. David Loughran discusses the history of the Angel Makers of Nagyrev

The Antarctic Adventure of Douglas Mawson

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 18:45:38 GMT

Dr. Zane Horowitz tells the toxic history of the Antarctic Adventure of Douglas Mawson

The Minamata Bay Disaster

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 19:00:32 GMT

Dr. Noah Berland discusses the history of the Minamata Bay Disaster.

The Teacup Poisner

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 18:16:14 GMT

Dr. Anita Mudan tells the history of the Teacup Poisoner.

The Goiânia Incident

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 18:13:07 GMT

Dr. Joseph Clemons tells the history of the The Goiânia Incident.

King Mithradates

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 18:09:02 GMT

Dr. Laurén Murphy tells the toxic history of King Mithradates.

The Yew Tree

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 15:21:45 GMT

Dr. Courtney Temple discusses the history of the Yew Tree.

The Oregon State Hospital Disaster

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 14:55:37 GMT

Dr. Keahi Horowitz tells the history of the Oregon State Hospital Disaster of 1942.