Atropine Poisoning in Hawthorne'sThe Scarlet Letter

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Abstract
This article presents evidence that surreptitious atropine poisoning accounts for the bizarre behavior and ultimate demise of the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale in Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic work, The Scarlet Letter.1 This poisoning of a major character in a widely read novel, written by a celebrated author, has escaped forensic detection for more than a century. This should be of interest to the medical community, because the poisoning was accomplished through the agency of a physician.As an aid to the reader, a summary of the plot of The Scarlet Letter is provided. The plot centers on three major characters: an . . .

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