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Poison: The Assassin's Friend Trivia Quiz

A difficult test of your knowledge of poisons, particularly homicidal poisons. Have fun.

A multiple-choice quiz by ladyassassin. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
ladyassassin

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
100,556

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1141

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which poison is called 'the king of poisons' due its extensive use throughout history since Roman times?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is the origin of the word toxic? Hint

From the Greek word for 'bow'

The Sanskrit for 'bitter'

An Egyptian word meaning 'killing shrewdly'

From the Afrikaans for 'death'

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Question 3 of 10

3. The lethal dose of arsenic for a human being is how many miligrams? Hint

125

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Question 4 of 10

4. Arsenic was very hard to detect inside the body until the year 1836, when a new test was developed - what was it called? Hint

Marsh Test

Fielding Test

Medici Test

Opaku Test

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is the name of the first 'universal antidote', said to cure all types of poisoning? Hint

Terra Toxidia

Mithridatium

Spanish Fly

Miditatcum

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Question 6 of 10

6. Called 'Spanish fly', this poison comes from a beetle called what? Hint

Cantharidia vosicatiria

Lytta vesictoria

Acleris gloverana

Acleriasis giveria

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Question 7 of 10

7. 'Spanish fly' was thought to be an aphrodisiac in France, but was also used for...? Hint

Curing rashes

Killing unwanted weeds and plants

Sedating aputation patients

Abortions

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of these substances can be toxic? Hint

Spider web

Cotton

Silver

Paper

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which part of the 'ratti' tree, or abrus precatorius, is toxic? Hint

Leaves

Sap

Flowers

Seeds

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which 17th century woman murdered about 600 people and is thought of as the greatest poisoner of all time? Hint

Toffana

Queen Elizabeth I

Catherine de Medici

Queen Victoria

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which poison is called 'the king of poisons' due its extensive use throughout history since Roman times?

Answer: Arsenic

Arsenic was once thought of as the 'ideal homicidal poison', because originally there was no way of discovering that a toxic substance had entered the body.

2. What is the origin of the word toxic?

Answer: From the Greek word for 'bow'

Toxeuma means 'bow' in Greek. The poison is quick and goes straight to the target in the manner of an arrow. The word 'poison', incidentally, comes from the French for 'drink', because poison was traditionally put in drinks.

3. The lethal dose of arsenic for a human being is how many miligrams?

Answer: 125

This is the latest measurement from the University of Hokkaido in Japan.

4. Arsenic was very hard to detect inside the body until the year 1836, when a new test was developed - what was it called?

Answer: Marsh Test

Dr. James Marsh developed this test. He would convert the arsenic he suspected to be in body tissue into arsine gas and then back into its pure form.

5. What is the name of the first 'universal antidote', said to cure all types of poisoning?

Answer: Mithridatium

King Mithridates VI in 150 BC was paranoid about poison and developed mithridatium which he took daily. When his castle was under siege he tried to poison himself, but because of the dose of antidote he always took, he failed and had himself stabbed.

6. Called 'Spanish fly', this poison comes from a beetle called what?

Answer: Lytta vesictoria

This poison is also known as cantharides. It causes swelling of the body and, eventually, death.

7. 'Spanish fly' was thought to be an aphrodisiac in France, but was also used for...?

Answer: Abortions

The poison caused the womb to swell and choke the foetus, but it often killed the mother too.

8. Which of these substances can be toxic?

Answer: Silver

Poisoning of this kind is called argyrosis. It can cause the skin to turn blue or grey.

9. Which part of the 'ratti' tree, or abrus precatorius, is toxic?

Answer: Seeds

This tree originates from India. It is often made into needles called 'sutari', and the symptoms of the sufferer look a lot like a viper bite.

10. Which 17th century woman murdered about 600 people and is thought of as the greatest poisoner of all time?

Answer: Toffana

The Italian woman Toffana invented 'agua Toffana', a deadly poison containing arsenic which she sold to various people. She did this to make a huge profit because, at the time, there were not many poisons around and many women wanted to kill their husbands. Such practices were common in the 17th century. She was executed at Naples in 1709.

Source: Author ladyassassin

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor thejazzkickazz before going online.
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