A poison is any chemical substance that is harmful or lethal to living organisms. The term is used in a wide range of scientific fields and industries, where it is often specifically defined. It may also be applied colloquially or figuratively, with a broad sense. Whether something is considered a poison or not may depend on the amount, the circumstances, and what living things are present. Poisoning could be accidental or deliberate, and if the cause can be identified there may be ways to neutralise the effects or minimise the symptoms. In biology, a poison is a chemical substance causing death, injury or harm to organisms or their parts. In medicine, poisons are a kind of toxin that are delivered passively, not actively. In industry the term may be negative, something to be removed to make a thing safe, or positive, an agent to limit unwanted pests. In ecological terms, poisons introduced into the environment can later cause unwanted effects elsewhere, or in other parts of the food chain. Modern definitions In broad metaphorical (colloquial) usage of the term, "poison" may refer to anything deemed harmful.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Notable quotes

“Belladonna, n.: In Italian a beautiful lady; in English a deadly poison. A striking example of the essential identity of the two tongues.”
— Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary
“Better be poisoned in one's own blood then to be poisoned in one's principle.”
— Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan As quoted by Governor Barnett's Declaration to the Profile of Mississippi Broadcast via TV and Radio. Sep. 13, 1962 without citation and in An unknown legend of India: A bharat ratna By Gaurav Pundeer
“Son, I don't have money even to buy poison. Please help –”
— Dadasaheb Phalke in a letter to his son Bhalchandra in late 1930s, quoted in "Dadasaheb Phalke's family wants Bharat Ratna for him". Hindustan Times. 27 April 2013. Retrieved on 26 December 2013.
“All things are poison and nothing is without poison; only the dose makes a thing not a poison.”
— Paracelsus "Die dritte Defension wegen des Schreibens der neuen Rezepte," Septem Defensiones 1538. Werke Bd. 2, Darmstadt 1965, p. 510 (full text)
“Vipera Cappadocem nocitura mormordit; at illa Gustato peril sanguine Cappadocis.”
— A deadly echidna once bit a Cappadocian; she herself died, having tasted the Poison-flinging blood.
“All men carry about them that which is poyson to serpents: for if it be true that is reported, they will no better abide the touching with man's spittle than scalding water cast upon them: but if it happen to light within their chawes or mouth, especially if it come from a man that is fasting, it is present death.”
— Pliny the Elder, Natural History, Book VII, Chapter II. Holland's translation.

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

Notable quotes

“Belladonna, n.: In Italian a beautiful lady; in English a deadly poison. A striking example of the essential identity of the two tongues.”
— Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary
“Better be poisoned in one's own blood then to be poisoned in one's principle.”
— Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan As quoted by Governor Barnett's Declaration to the Profile of Mississippi Broadcast via TV and Radio. Sep. 13, 1962 without citation and in An unknown legend of India: A bharat ratna By Gaurav Pundeer
“Son, I don't have money even to buy poison. Please help –”
— Dadasaheb Phalke in a letter to his son Bhalchandra in late 1930s, quoted in "Dadasaheb Phalke's family wants Bharat Ratna for him". Hindustan Times. 27 April 2013. Retrieved on 26 December 2013.
“All things are poison and nothing is without poison; only the dose makes a thing not a poison.”
— Paracelsus "Die dritte Defension wegen des Schreibens der neuen Rezepte," Septem Defensiones 1538. Werke Bd. 2, Darmstadt 1965, p. 510 (full text)
“Vipera Cappadocem nocitura mormordit; at illa Gustato peril sanguine Cappadocis.”
— A deadly echidna once bit a Cappadocian; she herself died, having tasted the Poison-flinging blood.
“All men carry about them that which is poyson to serpents: for if it be true that is reported, they will no better abide the touching with man's spittle than scalding water cast upon them: but if it happen to light within their chawes or mouth, especially if it come from a man that is fasting, it is present death.”
— Pliny the Elder, Natural History, Book VII, Chapter II. Holland's translation.

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

Overview

A poison is any chemical substance that is harmful or lethal to living organisms. The term is used in a wide range of scientific fields and industries, where it is often specifically defined. It may also be applied colloquially or figuratively, with a broad sense. Whether something is considered a poison or not may depend on the amount, the circumstances, and what living things are present. Poisoning could be accidental or deliberate, and if the cause can be identified there may be ways to neutralise the effects or minimise the symptoms. In biology, a poison is a chemical substance causing death, injury or harm to organisms or their parts. In medicine, poisons are a kind of toxin that are delivered passively, not actively. In industry the term may be negative, something to be removed to make a thing safe, or positive, an agent to limit unwanted pests. In ecological terms, poisons introduced into the environment can later cause unwanted effects elsewhere, or in other parts of the food chain. Modern definitions In broad metaphorical (colloquial) usage of the term, "poison" may refer to anything deemed harmful.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

A poison is any chemical substance that is harmful or lethal to living organisms. The term is used in a wide range of scientific fields and industries, where it is often specifically defined. It may also be applied colloquially or figuratively, with a broad sense.

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