Chemistry/Elizabethan I poison question? ?

Question

I asked this question in the Royalty section - but will try here as well.

In the 1998 film "Elizabeth" with Cate Blanchett there was a memorable scene in the movie, where her lady-in-waiting tries on a dress meant for the Queen that was a gift. She meets up with a male courtier and they have a "knee trembler" in the hallway. The sweat must have activated the poison in the fabric of the gown intended for the Queen to wear and she has a bad reaction and dies.

What kind of contact poison in the Elizabethan era would cause someone to die from wearing a gown? Was this some sort of fabrication by the writers - or what kind of historic poison could be used on clothes to actually kill someone?

I have seen this movie several times, and could never find a satisfactory answer from anyone. Can you help?

Answer 1

None that I know of would cause instant death... The skin is the best protection...

But if an open cut or anything that give the toxin and entrance into the blood stream then the toxins pile up...

  

Answer 2

i'm sorry i didn't have enough time to read your book but i will make an educated guess..................EAT THE POISON!!

Answer 3

huh?

Answer 4

Most of the poisons that exist, like arsenic for example, or rat poison, can be absorbed through the skin. I don't know what specific poison was used, but at the time belladona was very common although I think it would have to be a massive dosage to kill someone through the skin. It's possible though, just about any chemical component can be absorbed by skin contact, it's just a matter of dosage.