Reading Unit 3:Poisoners Handbook by Deborah Blum

– LHS Berkemeier and Perkerson

Guided Discussion Questions are provided for each unit by chapter.

These questionsencourage students to engage in a close reading of the text, prompting them to clarify or infer meaning and to pause to examine not only what is written, but why andhow it is written.

Writing Prompts are thematic and organized in sections that may be of special interest specific poisons. These prompts guide studentstoward an in-depth analysis of the themes and issues central to the story of The Poisoners Handbookmay promote outside reading or research. There are severalquestions that would

require students to expand their thinking and engage insignificant research activities related to subjects or issues raised in the book.

Time line – students are required create a time line based on their chapter readings. At the end of each unit, students are to identify at least 15 significant discoveries related to chemistry, poisons and their significance in each reading unit. Students should use this as their self-generated study guide.

3rd Reading Guide (Chapter 7-9)

Seven: Methyl Alcohol

  1. What are the differences between wood alcohol poisoning vs. methyl alcohol poisoning?
  2. Explain the significance for anti-alcohol laws or Prohibition in the 1927’s
  3. Who was Nicholas Murry Butler?
  4. Was there a connection of methyl alcohol and the bodies that were piling up in the Belle Vue morgue? Explain the evidence.
  5. Briefly explain why Ruby Gonzales was significant.
  6. What’s the difference between methyl alcohol vs. formaldehyde poisoning? Is there a difference in symptoms – if yes, what are the distinctions between the two?
  7. Summarize the Snyder-Gray case (*the main players and their role, main reason for this case, the evidence and verdict).

Eight: Radium

  1. Briefly explain the discovery of radium (where, by whom and how)
  2. Who was Harrison Stanford Martland? What’s his relationship to Norris?
  3. How was Martlant’s research on bones and young dial painters important in the discovery of radium poisoning?
  4. Who are the five radium girls? Explain.
  5. Why did Norris agree to hold off his findings? Did this change your attitude towards his character?
  6. What are the symptoms of radium poisoning? Is there a cure or antidote?
  7. Describe Marie and Pierre Curie’s journey with radium research.

Nine: Ethyl alcohol

  1. Explain the similarities and/or differencesof ethyl alcohol poisoning, wood alcoholandmethyl alcohol poisoning
  2. Discuss the patterns of the victims in Gettlers records (Case 1, 2, and 3)
  3. Why did Gettler find ethyl alcohol to be “fascinating”?
  4. What is Jamaican Ginger?
  5. What were the results of Gettler and Freireich’s research? If you were the researcher, would you choose different subjects – why or why not?
  6. Why was Franklin D. Roosevelt important in this era?
  7. Are there any medicinal values to ethyl alcohol? Explain.

Create a time lineidentifying at least 15 significant discoveries related to chemistry, poisons and their significance in this reading unit.