American Experience

The Poisoner's Handbook

Season 26 Episode 1 | 1h 51m 47s  | Video has closed captioning.

In the early 20th century, the average American medicine cabinet was a would-be poisoner's treasure chest, with radioactive radium, thallium, and morphine in everyday products.

Aired: 01/07/14

Expired: 01/08/17

Rating: NR

Problems Playing Video? | Closed Captioning

For Season 26 of American Experience, exclusive corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance, major funding by The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS stations.

Support provided by:

American Experience.

Explore Free Resources
The Chinese Six Companies

Short

The Chinese Six Companies

On May 28, 1900, San Francisco policemen formed a perimeter around Chinatown as officials diagnosed bubonic plague in the neighborhood and wanted to quarantine the nearly 20,000 residents. As tensions flared, an influential group of merchants known as the Chinese Six Companies sprang into action.

Watch