QIn my story, the perpetrator injects his victims with curare and takes their picture as they die. I’ve been told this would take about twenty minutes. Correct? Where would a layperson find this poison, or could he make it himself?
Cynthia Hickey
Author of Candy-Coated Secrets and
Chocolate-Covered Crime
ACurare is a neuromuscular paralytic, which means that it paralyzes all the muscles of the body, including those used in breathing. The victim cannot move, blink, speak, or breathe and will die from asphyxia. The degree of paralysis and the speed of action depend upon the dose, the size of the person, any diseases the victim might have, and a few other factors. In general, the paralysis is complete and it occurs very quickly.
Curare is typically given by IV injection, and if so, it works in about thirty seconds. If given intramuscularly (IM), it would take a little longer—maybe three to five minutes. If your bad guy gives it IM, the victim would be active for a few minutes, then would gradually slip into complete paralysis, stop breathing, and die two to four minutes after that. This is a general timeline, so you can fudge it a bit either way. The victim would be awake and aware until he lapsed into a coma just prior to death.
Curare is available by prescription only or could be stolen from a hospital OR or ER or pharmacy or from a pharmaceutical supply house.
The plant can be ordered from some homeopathic medical suppliers. It could then be steeped in boiling or very hot water to make a curare tea, which could be evaporated to a thicker liquid, so only a very small amount would be needed. It could then be injected. Not pure, clean, or pharmaceutical but effective.