Oxalic acid, epsom salt and the poison bottle.
1 During the 19th century inadequate control of the sale of poisons, widespread illiteracy, and the English addiction to self-medication contributed to the high incidence of accidental poisoning by oxalic acid mistaken for Epsom salt. 2 Chemical methods for identifying oxalic acid failed when the product was adulterated. 3 Many mechanical devices were proposed to prevent careless dispensing; designs for poison bottles of distinctive shape, colour and texture appeared regularly for 40 years.
D002621:Chemistry; D004348:Drug Labeling / Q000266:history; D004349:Drug Packaging / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug / Q000266:history; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000266:history* / Q000506:poisoning; D010070:Oxalates / Q000266:history* / Q000506:poisoning; D019815:Oxalic Acid; D006113:United Kingdom
D010070:Oxalates; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D019815:Oxalic Acid