History of toxicology and environmental health : toxicology in antiquity II / Philip Wexler.

Includes bibliographical references.

Murder, execution, and suicide in Ancient Greece and Rome -- Chemical and biological warfare in antiquity -- Anthropogenic air pollution in ancient times -- Poisoning in Ancient Rome: the legal framework, the nature of poisons, and gender stereotypes -- Asclepius and the snake as toxicological symbols in Ancient Greece and Rome -- Drugs, suppositories, and cult worship in antiquity -- Kohl use in antiquity: effects on the eye -- "Gleaming and deadly white": toxic cosmetics in the Roman world -- Poisonous medicine in Ancient China -- The venomous virgin: fact or fantasy? -- Mushroom intoxication in Mesoamerica -- Entheogens in ancient times -- Entheogens (psychedelic drugs) and the ancient mystery religions.

This volume, Toxicology in Antiquity II, continues to tell the story of the roots of toxicology in ancient times. Readers learn that before scientific research methods were developed, toxicology thrived as a very practical discipline. Toxicologists are particularly proud of the rich and storied history of their field and there are few resources available that cover the discipline from a historical perspective. People living in ancient civilizations readily learned to distinguish safe from hazardous substances, how to avoid these hazardous substances and how to use them to inflict harm on enemi.

Online resource; title from PDF title page (ebrary, viewed October 2, 2014).