HUFFINGTON POST: …After evaluating a wide variety of potential poisons, the paper’s authors concluded that the white hellebore idea was the most plausible theories involving poison, given that the leader’s alleged symptoms matched the kind the plant would have produced, Schep told The Huffington Post in an email.
“Exposure to extracts from this plant causes clinical effects similar to [Alexander’s] reported signs and symptoms,” he told HuffPost. “Of note was the duration of symptoms, which could continue for more than 12 days if intoxicated patients are not treated.”
As to how the wine may have been administered, Schep told HuffPost that the “medicinal properties” of Veratrum album were well known at the time. Therefore, “someone with such knowledge, who was able to obtain the plant extract, and had access” to Alexander or his chalice could have poisoned him. Schep singled out Alexander’s cup bearer as a possible suspect in such a scenario… (more)
