1824.] History of Poisons. 435 



adventurer named Saint Croix, acquired from him the secret of 

 this diabolical act, and practised it to an extent that had never 

 before been equalled. She poisoned her two brothers through 

 the medium of a dish at table. She also prepared poisoned 

 biscuits, and to try their strength she distributed them herself 

 to the poor at the Hotel Dieu. Her own maid was likewise the 

 subject of her experiments. To her father she gave poisoned 

 broth, which brought on symptoms characteristic of those 

 induced by corrosive sublimate. Her brothers lingered during 

 several months under much suffering. The detection of this wretch 

 is said to have been brought about in the following manner. 

 Saint Croix, whenever engaged in the preparation of his poisons, 

 was accustomed to protect himself from their dangerous fumes 

 by wearing a glass mask, which happening to fall off by acci- 

 dent, he was found dead in his laboratory.* A casket directed 

 to the Marchioness, with a desire that in case of her death it 

 might be destroyed unopened, was found in his chamber, a cir- 

 cumstance which in itself was sufficient to excite the curiosity 

 and suspicion of those into whose hands it fell. The casket was 

 accordingly examined, and the disclosure of its contents at once 

 developed the whole plot, and finally led to the conviction of this 

 French Medea, who, after a number of adventures and escapes, 

 was at length arrested and sent to Paris, where she was behead- 

 ed, and then burnt, on the 11th of July, 1676. The practice of 

 poisoning, however, did not cease with her execution, and it 

 became necessary in 1679 to establish a particular Court, for the 

 detection and trial of such offenders ; which continued for some 

 time to exert its jurisdiction under the title of Chambre de 

 Poison, or Chambre Ardente. 



With respect to the secret modes in which poisons have been 

 supposed capable of acting, mankind have ever betrayed the 

 most extravagant credulity, of which the numerous tales upon 

 record afford ample proof; such as that reported of Parasapis 

 by Plutarch, from Ctesias, in his life of Artaxerxes, who, it is 

 said, by anointing a knife on one side by poison, and therewith 

 dividing a bird, poisoned Statira with one half, and with the 

 other regaled herself in perfect security. We are also told of 

 Livia who poisoned the figs on a tree which her husband was in 

 the habit of gathering with his own hands. Tissot informs us 

 that John, king of Castille, was poisoned by a pair of boots pre- 

 pared by a Turk ; Henry VI. by gloves ;f Pope Clement VII. 



• This story, if wc mistake not, suggested to the successful author of Kenilworth the 

 tragic death of his alchymist. 



■f- The belief in the possibility of poisoning by the vestments is very ancient, as is 

 shown by the fabled death of Hercules. 



■ " Capit inscius heros: 



Induiturquc humeris Lniuea virus Echidna?. 



Incaluit vis ilia mali ; resolutoqufl llainmis; 

 Herculeos abiit late diffusa per artus." 



Ovid. Mctiiiu. lib. ix. v. |M. 

 2 v 2 



