It has long been known about the presence in the bodies of dead people and animals that have lain for some time, the so-called cadaveric poison. This applies not only to deaths during epidemics or other mass infections. Even those who died during blockades or encirclements were tried to be separated in some way from the external environment. For example, in medieval castles they tried, if not to bury, then at least to burn. Cadaveric poison has served as a weapon of revenge and warfare for centuries.
Thus, in ancient Russia, it was difficult for people to resist the well-prepared for war enemy from Western Europe. The heavy armor of the knights and other uniforms provided significant superiority both in mounted and on foot combat. Then cadaveric poison began to be widely used by our ancestors. The ends of the arrows smeared with it, falling into the joints of the armor, killed the victim in just a day. At the same time, the person died in terrible agony, and the resthelplessly horrified at the sight. In just a matter of days, a huge number of soldiers could be killed. There were no cures. One could only burn out the wound completely immediately after the defeat and hope that everything will work out.
If in the period of Ancient Russia the extract from corpses had the meaning of some kind of witchcraft, today we can say that cadaveric poison is something more mundane. In medicine, this poison is known as cadaverine. This name has a whole group of substances, but their origin is clear from the name. They are organic compounds that are released during the decay of a human or animal corpse. Most of these poisons, when ingested through the digestive system, are easily digested without any consequences. There are a lot of representatives of these toxic substances. Depending on the method of withdrawal and proportions, some cadaveric poisons can cause infection (total) of the blood, others have a powerful nerve-paralytic effect. Although all the properties of cadaveric poison, as well as its composition, have not been studied.
For an example, we can consider poisoning with the so-called "light cadaverines". Cadaveric poisoning causes the most severe poisoning with an infecting injection (cut). The place first swells, inflames. In just a few hours, the tumor completely covers the limb, then goes to the trunk. The febrile condition caused by the rise in temperature is combined with violent chilliness and body pain everywhere. Approximately a day later, the infection passes to the brain, followed byfailure of the liver and kidneys. A poisoned person dies in terrible agony.
It can be concluded that cadaveric poisoning is very dangerous. Despite the fact that now is the 21st century and such poison is rarely used, there are still situations that are fraught with poisoning. If cadaveric poison gets into the wound, it should at least be washed, but you should not stop there. You will have to burn the place properly with the help of strong acids (nitric or acetic, silver nitrate, etc.).
Substances of the cadaverine group have a very high toxicity and, according to some information, can penetrate thin skin, hair follicles, pores, sweat glands. Cadaveric poison often threatens the lives of mortuary workers, especially pathologists, but there are many preventive measures (use of gloves, lubrication of the skin, etc.) to ensure the safety of their work.
