Arsenic poisoning did not kill Napoleon in Saint Helena, as affirmed by a new meticulous examination…
The research…was performed on hair samples that had been taken during different periods of Napoleon Bonaparte’s life, from when he was a boy in Corsica, during his exile on the Island of Elba, on the day of his death on the Island of Saint Helena, and on the day after his death.
Samples taken from the King of Rome (Napoleon’s son) in the years 1812, 1816, 1821, and 1826, and samples from the Empress Josephine, collected upon her death in 1814, were also analysed…In addition to these “historical” hair samples, 10 hairs from living persons were examined for comparison purposes…
The examination produced some surprising results. First of all, the level of arsenic in all of the hair samples from 200 years ago is 100 times greater than the average level detected in samples from persons living today. In fact, the Emperor’s hair had an average arsenic level of around ten parts per one million whereas the arsenic level in the hair samples from currently living persons was around one tenth of a part per one million. In other words, at the beginning of the 19th people evidently ingested arsenic that was present in the environment in quantities that are currently considered as dangerous.
The other surprise regards the finding that there were no significant differences in arsenic levels between when Napoleon was a boy and during his final days in Saint Helena. According to the researchers, and in particular the toxicologists who participated in the study, it is evident that this was not a case of poisoning but instead the result of the constant absorption of arsenic.
Scratch that particular conspiracy theory.
Interesting find! It is a shame the article did not mention whether they were aware of what caused the substantially higher levels of arsenic. I find it hard to believe that there was simply more of it in the atmosphere.
Why would there be hair samples from when he was a boy?
#2
Probably taken from the boarding school he attended as a boy. Once Napoleon became emperor his artifacts became valuable so it is not hard to believe that someone would have saved something he used which contained some of his hairs.
Napoleon had green wall paper and the green dye was arsenic based. The more paranoid he got the more he closed himself up in his bedroom. The room got damp and moldy. The reducing potential of the mold vaporized arsenic from the wall paper and it is was finished him off.
Been discussing this with peers and it’s much more likely arsenic was commonly present in water or specific foods. Might even had to do with something as simple as milling grain.
This advance in non-destructive testing will encourage all sorts of analysis, spiraling out from this example. Should be interesting.
#3 Ok then let’s say you become Emperor next week. Do you think there are some of your childhood hair samples laying around?
Now I believe there is someone who thinks they have hair samples from when he was a boy but come on.
It is certainly possible if someone had kept a childhood blanket or set of clothes like a uniform. Perhaps a parent or relative stuffed some of his childhood paraphernalia in a box and forgot about it. I know that my parents have all kinds of crazy stuff from my childhood and it wouldn’t surprise me, even in the modern era where items are washed far more frequently, if someone were able to find one of my childhood hairs in all of the clutter my folks have kept.
#5
I’d agree that it is likely to be water or food supply or items related to that (think lead and Roman dinnerware). I would also guess that lifestyle has a part. If I had to throw out a guess it would be the red wine which can contain quite a bit of arsenic.
Gig – have you spent your entire life living in a cloister or some other closet? Real people often save samples from their kids’ childhood: like the first haircut or styling. Not at all unusual.
Or were you born bald?
Everyone call your mother. Ask her if she has a sample of your hair from when you were a boy. If there are any women here, you can do that too except that you were probably a girl.
#8, Thomas,
Good point as wine was quite popular.
Also, due to the average life expectancy, most people would die anyway before too long. If not of arsenic, mercury, or lead poisoning, then possibly of some other cumulative effects. Also various food poisonings and diseases were more than common. It would be very difficult to isolate one element and pin point it as a specific danger 200 years ago.
When the favored treatments included mercury tinctures and bleeding the patient, who really knew the cause of most deaths.
Cool Suzuki!
#11
Indeed. 18th century medical techniques are a marvel are they not? Anyone that talks about the “good ole’ days” generally doesn’t know much about them. It is also possible that there is no single cause. A combination of factors such as those you mentioned might result in the high arsenic levels. There is something to the argument of not worrying about living 50 years if the average person does not live 30.
It was quite common in Italian families up until just recently to keep a lock of each childs hair or more. And Napoleon was Italian folks.
In fact, it was common all over Europe of the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th century’s.
Arsenic was used much more extensively in those days than now. And they didn’t have water purifction plants. Most French even in the 20th century diluted water with red wine which has high arsenic levels from the wines that are still avalable from those years.
We’re not all that clean ourselves:
pollution in the human body
#6: Actually I do my parents saved some hair from my first haircut in my baby book. You would be surprised how many people do that.
U guys should give me a call
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