Arsenic, Simón Bolívar and Hugo Chávez

[HuckleB]

http://scienceblogs.com/speakeasyscience/2010/05/dont_eat_the_weeds_part_2.php

"...

Naturally, poisoners took advantage of this abundance. Arsenic, is after all, a rather murderous metallic element, capable of spreading throughout the body and efficiently disrupting cellular metabolism. In the early 19th century, it was the poisoner's favorite weapon - its symptoms were similar to those of natural infections, from respiratory distress, to nausea and severe cramping. Perhaps the most obvious warning of arsenic poisoning was a yellowing or darkening of skin, if the poison was taken in low doses over some period of time, with sensitivity to touch and even formation of sores on hands and feet.

...

Which brings us - although you might not see it coming - to the Latin American general Simón Bolívar, famed for helping to liberate much of continent from Spanish domination, in the early 19th century. Bolívar died in 1830 but even 180 years later he remains one of South America's most revered heroes. The country of Bolivia is named after him, statues abound across the continent, his bones are enshrined in Caracas, Venezuela, the country of his birth. But Bolívar did not die a glorious death. He was in the process of leaving for Europe, following several attempts on his life by political enemies, when he died at the age of 47, reportedly from tuberculosis.

...

Which brings us - although again you might not see this coming - to this year's Historical Clinicopathological Conference, an annual event which re-examines the deaths of famous figures in history. In previous years, the conference has its medical attention on leaders ranging Abraham Lincoln to the United States to Akhenaten of ancient Egypt. This year's meeting, in early May, was on Simón Bolívar and the keynote speaker was an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University announced that Bolivar's symptoms didn't fit that diagnosis. Rather, Dr. Paul Auwaerter, said they were a better match with chronic arsenic poisoning, right down to the darkening of the dying leader's skin.

...

Which brings us - at last - to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. The leader of Venezuela has long venerated his famous countryman, often comparing his fight against "Yankee Imperialism" to the heroic deeds of El Liberator. He sent two members of the Venezuelan Embassy to hear Auwaerter speak and promptly announced that the doctors' report confirmed what he, Chávez, had long suspected - that his hero had been murdered by his enemies from Columbia.

..."


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Now, the conference itself seems mildly odd. I'm not completely sure of the value of such a conference. Still, I find the claim by Chavez to be even more bizarre. What's the point? I mean, at one point in time, I had mild high hopes for Chavez. But he seems to inhabit one of more bizarre "worlds" around. It's entertaining for observers, but I'm not sure if it's much else, anymore.

[EFerrari]

1. So, you find it bizarre to think that Bolivar's death might have been an assassination?

How bizarre would that be, given the history of predation on Latin American democracy?

It would be historically more bizarre to rule it out without an investigation.

[HuckleB]

2. I find your response to my post to be bizarre.

:evilgrin:

(No, seriously. Please respond to the actual content of my post. Thank you.)

[ConsAreLiars]

3. You find it odd that pathologists have conferences?

You find it odd that they look at cases from the past where questions remain?

You find it odd that Latin Americans including Xhavez are interested in what one panel concluded about Bolivar's death?

What an odd collection of things you believe to be odd!

(edit tiny typo)

[HuckleB]

4. I also find it odd that you didn't read the link before responding.

And I find your need to put words in my mouth and make a pointless personal attack as a response to be even more odd.

What is so hard about responding to the actual content of the posts of others?

[ConsAreLiars]

5. Keep digging yourself in deeper, if that is your goal.

I read the link and that of the conference referred to.

Don't keep sliming yourself by posting more gibberish and making more unfounded accusations, unless you wish tro, of course.

[HuckleB]

8. I'm not the one who is digging.

You can tell by the shovel in your hand, and the pile of red herring next to you.

[sabrina 1]

6. I find it odd that the U.S. rather than celebrating

and helping emerging democracies in South America, does the exact opposite. The Western media continues to try to demonize Chavez and refuses to report factually on Venezuela and his role in the country's history.

You say you had 'mild high hopes' for Chavez, and then go on to claim that his interest in the possible murder of one of S. America's liberators and heroes, is 'odd'. What does that have to do with having high hopes for him? Btw, I continue to hope for the best for that country, and that Chavez will succeed in making it a better place for all Venezuelans which he appears to be doing, despite how difficult a task it has been.

But back to your OP, iff his interest in how Bolivar died is odd, then our own interest in looking back at the lives of our heroes, like Thomas Jefferson eg, must seem odd to you also.

But here, the information revealed by the use of modern technology that Jefferson had an affair with one of his slaves and fathered several children with her, was never considered 'odd'. It is now considered part of our history.

I see nothing at all odd about Chavez' interest and willingness to believe that Bolivar was murdered. It certainly wouldn't be a surprise if that was the case, would it?

[HuckleB]

7. And another post that does not respond to the actual content of my post.

Wow!