Early last century in North America, cattle began dying after minor medical procedures. It was quickly discovered that the deaths were the result of the cattle eating mouldy silage that contained a powerful agent which led to the cattle bleeding to death from simple wounds. Twenty years later the specific chemical responsible was isolated for use as a pharmaceutical anti-coagulant and later as a powerful rodent poison. It is for this latter use the chemical perhaps became more well known as Warfarin.
There were two early uses of the drug, one well-documented, one less so. It is theorised that assisted by its tasteless and colourless nature, Warfarin was used to kill Joseph Stalin. A couple of years later, in 1955, President Eisenhower was treated with Warfarin following a heart attack, a use that played some part in saving his life.
I’ve considered many analogies to start this post. Warfarin, radiation, electricity etc etc…
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