This 16th-century assassin’s cabinet containing a wealth of poisons was found hidden inside a hollowed-out book. The ornate cabinet likely belonged to a travelling apothecary or a murderer for hire. Possibly both. 1/3
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The contents included (clockwise from top left): henbane, opium poppy, water hemlock, false mandrake, devil’s snare, valerian, castor bean, deadly nightshade, autumn crocus, and mezereon. The bottle most probably held grain alcohol or olive oil for making tinctures or oils. 2/3
Of all the plants listed, valerian and poppy are the only non-lethal ones (having a somniferous effect instead). While it could be argued the other plants have a medicinal application in small doses, their high toxicity suggests the book’s owner was no ordinary apothecary. 3/3
As pointed out by @EvolSpell, I somehow failed to mention the cabinet held aconite as well. Also known as monkshood or wolfsbane, it reportedly claimed the lives of Socrates, Alexander the Great, and Pope Clement VII. Though highly poisonous, it was thought to cure lycanthropy.
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