bjmagnaniApr 212 minIn the Shape of a Question MarkHidden in the darkest crevices lurks a creature capable of delivering a lethal sting—the scorpion. All scorpions are venomous, but only...
bjmagnaniMar 152 minYou Are What You EatPoisons in nature are part of the natural defense of an organism, whether it is a plant or an animal---these toxins act as protection...
bjmagnaniFeb 73 minNow for Something Different: Take Flight on Your Bike on Plum Island, MassachusettsStrangling vines, poisonous plants, and soaring birds inhabit the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. And the best way to see it...
bjmagnaniJan 182 minSocrates and the Original Lethal CocktailDuring the Hellenistic period (323-31 BC), the lethal characteristics of the plant poison hemlock were well known and used as a means of...
bjmagnaniDec 14, 20211 minSugar Icing Spleen? Food for ThoughtWhy do pathologists see food in their work? Terms like sugar icing spleen (a thickened and whitish splenic capsule), nutmeg liver...
bjmagnaniNov 29, 20212 minA Kiss is Just a KissLike miniature snow globes, small white berries hang in the balance. Mistletoe, evergreen trees, and poinsettias abound as decorations...
bjmagnaniNov 18, 20211 minQuiet Death, Cherry RedA silent killer lurks within the house. During the winter months, frequent storms cause downed power lines while high snows present...
bjmagnaniNov 5, 20211 minCrystal Death? Possibly.Now that we’re spending more time indoors as the weather grows cold, our houseplants become a focus of our attention. One of my favorites...
bjmagnaniOct 29, 20212 minWhat was in the Apple the Evil Queen gave to Snow White?Did you ever wonder what poison the Evil Queen added to the apple she gave to Snow White? “When she breaks the tender peel, to taste the...
bjmagnaniOct 26, 20211 minToxic, Not Magic, MushroomsFall in New England brings us crops of Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria). A medium to large mushroom with a cap that varies from red to...
bjmagnaniOct 20, 20211 minWhy I donate part of my proceeds from my novels to the College of American Pathologists (CAP)I know what it’s like to have breast cancer. My laboratory receives specimens every day from women who have undergone a biopsy for a...
bjmagnaniOct 17, 20211 minThe Art of Secret PoisoningA Boston physician becomes an assassin for the U.S. government in these medical suspense thrillers by an award-winning pathologist....
bjmagnaniOct 14, 20211 minThe Queen of All PoisonsSunny days in the fall showcase beautiful blooms. This purple flower is Aconitum also known as Monkshood or Wolfsbane. Aconite was...