ABSTRACT
These phases began at different times and have wound their way through history at their own pace. One phase does not stop when another develops but rather proceeds in its own fashion as others progress. Toxicology has evolved from a study of chemicals that induce harm (the art of poisoning) to a study of chemicals to prevent harm (the science of poisoning). The use, abuse, and misuse of chemical, physical, and biological agents by individuals, groups, and societies over time form the basis of toxicology and how it developed. We use examples of poisonings from accidental exposures (e.g., food, animals, plants), inadvertent exposures (e.g., occupational, environmental), and deliberate exposures (e.g., murders, suicides, capital punishment, chemical warfare, therapeutics) to explore the development of toxicology.
