Aqua Tofana

What do modern crime plots have that make stories so compelling? Perhaps mysterious characters like Guilia Tofana. Not a single portrait of this heroic sinner (or what some might call an anti-villain) exists, but her product ‘Aqua Tofana’ has made history. Backed up by high-end forensic technology, today, nearly no crime is unsolvable, but things were different during the Renaissance period. Poisons could not be detected in the body, which made them the most common instruments of murder. Doctors would mistake the symptoms of poisoning for that of an undiscovered disorder. The beloved serial killer of the 17th century, Guilia Tofana was one such murderer, who admitted to having poisoned over 600 men in Rome (although the figure may not be accurate since she was being tortured at the time of confession) between 1633-1651.

The prevalent patriarchal society left women silenced, and a strong desire to liberate females trapped in toxic marriages stirred within her. Guilia was equally dear to all women, both rich and poor. She was a widow, who spent most of her time watching apothecaries work, and it was probably their influence, coupled with the ‘secret recipe’ passed down by her mother that lead her to create this substance.

Unlike other traditional fast-acting poisons, Aqua Tofana was administered in minute quantities and at regular intervals. This afflicted the consumer’s body with symptoms of chronic illness, slowly leading to death, without arousing suspicion. The first dose, diluted in another liquid, resulted in enervation, while the second led to the onset of dysentery, emesis, and stomach pain. After the remaining 2 doses, the victim was bound to die. This ensured enough time for the victim to be alerted of his approaching death, and make necessary arrangements to deal with important affairs before his demise.

Initially, Guilia Tofana sold the poison mixed with powdered makeup within makeup containers, but the second disguise was even craftier. She began selling it in vials labeled as ‘Manna of St. Nicholas of Bari’ which made it seem like a healing oil of religious significance, used for treating blemishes. Hence, the container managed to stay effortlessly hidden in plain sight, on the vanity amidst other makeup products.

The liquid was colorless, odorless, and readily miscible in most drinks. Just 4 drops of this well-calculated mixture of lead, arsenic, and belladonna were enough to invite the Grim Reaper to come knocking at one’s door. Atropa belladonna, the deadly nightshade, despite its dangers, was used by women to dilate their pupils in order to appear more “attractive”. The alkaloids in belladonna include scopolamine, atropine, and hyocyamine, all of which are hallucinogenic, reduce heart rate, curb bodily secretions, and are relaxants. Atropine is a muscarinic antagonist, which blocks the muscarinic receptors in the pupil from the incoming acetylcholine, thus preventing the reaction causing pupil constriction.

Although belladonna has medicinal value, its consumption, if unchecked, may cause Atropa belladonna intoxication, which may lead to the anticholinergic toxic syndrome. This is a serious condition that requires gastrointestinal decontamination using activated charcoal. In severe cases, physostigmine (also an alkaloid), a reversible cholinesterase inhibitor is used as an antidote because of its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Renaissance cosmetics were full of soot and harmful chemicals like white lead and arsenic, most of which are declared to be carcinogenic by worldwide health institutions today. The acute effects of both lead and arsenic poisoning are the same: abdominal discomfort, exhaustion, pain in the extremities, and loss of appetite. There is no ‘safe limit’; lead concentrations in blood as low as~ 5-9 μg/dL can be fatal. Long-term exposure to arsenic exposure may lead to arsenic poisoning, skin cancer, skin lesions, hyperkeratosis, pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, and ‘Blackfoot’. Continued exposure to lead can engender anemia and damage to the brain and kidneys. Even today, lead and arsenic poisoning are primary global concerns because of their spread through groundwater, old paints, batteries, contaminated water, and tobacco consumption, but probably not through Aqua Tofana, although it doesn’t hurt to check for any suspicious makeup items that may be lying on your dresser.