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Toxic History!

by Adam Blumenberg MD

History Medicine

Season 1

Quicksilver: The Original Influencer and Timeless Toxin

Mercury has been used since before recorded history as a medicine, cosmetic, and poison. In this episode, we explore the liquid metal’s functions and forms in consumer products, from ancient alchemical potions to modern skin-whitening soaps.

The Toxic Examination of Edgar Allan Poe's Final Days

Edgar Allan Poe built a legacy on poems and short stories that delved into the mysterious and the macabre--but the events surrounding his own death remain disturbingly unclear. Found confused and disoriented on Election Day in 1849, he died days later without an autopsy or explanation. This talk examines Poe's final illness and the toxicological theories that may have been the cause.

The One Man Environmental Disaster

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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