ABSTRACT
Ancient hx of BW ◾ 600 BC: Athenians poisoned enemy water sources with green hellebore (cardiotoxic
veratrum alkaloids). Assyrians used ergot to contaminate grain crops and bread. ◾ 67 BC: Mithradates V of Pontus forced Pompey’s pursuing Roman legions into
a Turkish valley where the local honey was poisoned with grayanotoxins from Rhododendron nectar.
