bjmagnani
You Are What You Eat
Poisons in nature are part of the natural defense of an organism, whether it is a plant or an animal---these toxins act as protection...
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bjmagnani
Feb 7, 20223 min read
Now for Something Different: Take Flight on Your Bike on Plum Island, Massachusetts
Strangling vines, poisonous plants, and soaring birds inhabit the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. And the best way to see it...
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bjmagnani
Jan 18, 20222 min read
Socrates and the Original Lethal Cocktail
During the Hellenistic period (323-31 BC), the lethal characteristics of the plant poison hemlock were well known and used as a means of...
311 views
bjmagnani
Dec 14, 20211 min read
Sugar Icing Spleen? Food for Thought
Why do pathologists see food in their work? Terms like sugar icing spleen (a thickened and whitish splenic capsule), nutmeg liver...
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bjmagnani
Nov 29, 20212 min read
A Kiss is Just a Kiss
Like miniature snow globes, small white berries hang in the balance. Mistletoe, evergreen trees, and poinsettias abound as decorations...
107 views
bjmagnani
Nov 18, 20211 min read
Quiet Death, Cherry Red
A silent killer lurks within the house. During the winter months, frequent storms cause downed power lines while high snows present...
244 views
bjmagnani
Nov 5, 20211 min read
Crystal 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...
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bjmagnani
Oct 29, 20212 min read
What 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...
3,184 views
bjmagnani
Oct 26, 20211 min read
Toxic, Not Magic, Mushrooms
Fall in New England brings us crops of Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria). A medium to large mushroom with a cap that varies from red to...
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bjmagnani
Oct 20, 20211 min read
Why 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...
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bjmagnani
Oct 17, 20211 min read
The Art of Secret Poisoning
A Boston physician becomes an assassin for the U.S. government in these medical suspense thrillers by an award-winning pathologist....
146 views
bjmagnani
Oct 14, 20211 min read
The Queen of All Poisons
Sunny days in the fall showcase beautiful blooms. This purple flower is Aconitum also known as Monkshood or Wolfsbane. Aconite was...
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