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Sherlock Holmes and the Devils Foot Root: A Toxicological Adventure . . .

On February 13, 2003, at 6:00 p.m., Vidocq Society member and forensic toxicologist, Michael F. Rieders, Ph.D., VSM, presented an intriguing yet light-hearted program for the Fredric Rieders Family Renaissance Foundation at National Medical Services in Willow Grove, Pa. The captivating offering, The Adventure of the Devils Footaka The Cornish Horror, was one of the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle from the series, His Last Bow. The who-or-what done it mystery posed to Mr. Holmes and Doc Watson was toxicologically unraveled by Dr. Rieders in his 45-minute figure-out-the-poison presentation during which Rieders transformed himself into the image of Sherlock Holmes, equipped with deer stalker hat, cape, pipe and magnifying glass! Thirty-two invited guests, including Vidocqians Bill Fleisher and Fred Bornhofen, and nine members of a local Sherlockian Group, The Sons of the Copper Beeches, attended. The Sherlockians were so impressed with Dr. Riederstoxicological solution that they requested a repeat performance at one of their next local meetings.

The toxicological Sherlockian presentation came out of a challenge from the Society of Forensic Toxicologists to attempt to identify the poison from this ancient story. The ghastly, gaseous poison from the Devils Foot Root is generated by burning the root powder; producing a sinister smoke cloud. Victims, including Holmes and Watson, suffered signs and symptoms including visual and auditory hallucinations, muscle paralysis, extreme dry mouth and throat, temporary insanity, feelings of monstrous horror, and a frozen look of madness, all the way to convulsive, horribly contorted, and twisted appearance of terror on the face and body followed by death. Two victims die, two are driven mad and two recover. Is this the last story of Sherlock Holmes and Doc Watson?

By the end of the presentation, the story is told and the Devils Foot Root poison is unmasked as … Join us next time for the answer to this 100+-year-old mystery in, The Return of The Cornish Horrora repeat performance coming soon to the Delaware Valley area!