Summary

In the early 20th century, New York City was a hub of industrial innovation, but this progress came with a dark side: a proliferation of poisons in everyday products and the rise of a new breed of killer. The Poisoner's Handbook tells the story of how forensic toxicology emerged as a crucial tool for justice and public health during the Jazz Age.

Charles Norris, the city's first scientifically trained medical examiner, and Alexander Gettler, his brilliant toxicologist, faced an uphill battle against a corrupt system that often allowed poisoners to walk free. Norris fought tirelessly for adequate funding and recognition for his department, transforming the medical examiner's office from a political backwater into a respected scientific institution.

Gettler, a meticulous chemist, pioneered innovative laboratory techniques to identify toxins like wood alcohol, cyanide, arsenic, mercury, carbon monoxide, radium, and thallium in human tissue. He meticulously documented the effects of these poisons, challenging flawed assumptions and laying the groundwork for modern forensic science.

Together, Norris and Gettler tackled a wave of poisonings, exposing the dangers of unregulated products and bringing criminals to justice. They investigated high-profile murder cases, like the Ruth Snyder-Judd Gray affair, and exposed public health threats, such as the dangers of radium in consumer products and the government's own poisoning of industrial alcohol during Prohibition.

Their legacy extends beyond individual cases. Norris and Gettler fought to raise public awareness about the pervasiveness of poisons, advocating for stricter regulations and improved workplace safety. They also trained a new generation of forensic scientists, known as the "Gettler Boys," who would go on to lead crime labs across the country. The Poisoner's Handbook is a fascinating and often disturbing account of a pivotal era in forensic science, revealing how two pioneering scientists transformed the way we investigate death and protect public health.