# Arsenic poisoning

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arsenic-poisoning/274969>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 16, 2004, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arsenic-poisoning/274969 "2004-11-16T01:12:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Geenius\_at\_Wrok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@Geenius\_at\_Wrok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geenius_at_Wrok)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arsenic-poisoning/274969/1 "2004-11-16T01:12:18Z")

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The other day I was thinking about the movie “Temptress Moon” by Chen Kaige, specifically about the way two of the characters in it were poisoned. Both of them opium fiends, their pipes were spiked with arsenic; this had the effect of turning them into gray-complexioned vegetables. Is this something that could actually happen, or, as I kind of suspect, is it purely cinematic license? Wouldn’t actual arsenic poisoning just kill you outright?

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arsenic-poisoning/274969/2 "2004-11-16T01:19:55Z")

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From [this site](http://sdsd.essortment.com/arsenicpoisonin_rljn.htm):

> [@](#):
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> Symptoms of arsenic poisoning begin with headaches, confusion and drowsiness. As the poisoning develops, convulsions and changes in fingernail pigmentation may occur. When the poisoning becomes acute, symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, blood in the urine, cramping muscles, hair loss, stomach pain, and more convulsions. The organs of the body that are usually affected by arsenic poisoning are the lungs, skin, kidneys, and liver. The final result of arsenic poisoning is coma or death.