The Serpent and the Rainbow (book): Difference between revisions
Henri Hudson (talk | contribs) →Criticism: added inner link to Clairvius Narcisse+ edited exerpt from the Wade Davis page which explains how zombification works after initial "death" |
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Davis' claims were criticized for a number of scientific inaccuracies.<ref>Hines, Terrence (2008), “Zombies and Tetrodotoxin”, ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]'', Volume 32, Issue 3 (May/June), pp 60-62.</ref> Scientists doubted his assertion that Haitian witchdoctors could keep ''zombies'' in a state of pharmacologically induced trance for many years.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Booth | first1 = W. | year = 1988 | title = Voodoo Science | url = | journal = [[Science (journal)|Science]] | volume = 240 | issue = 4850| pages = 274–277 | doi = 10.1126/science.3353722 }}</ref> In 1988, a response from Davis was published in the journal ''Science'' in which he reviewed the reasons for the ''Voodoo Science'' article's harsh criticism and suggested a number of reasons that its conclusions may not have applied to his findings including the variability of formulations, possible errors in the testing performed on the samples he brought back, the possibility that the tetrodotoxin-based mixture may have had ingredients that improved blood-brain barrier transmission of the tetrodotoxin, and the nature of folk medicine with respect to success rates (i.e. that very few successes are required in order to establish credibility).<ref>{{cite journal | journal=Science | author=Davis, W. | date=24 June 1998 | title=Zombification (Letters) | doi=10.1126/science.3381089 | pages=1715–1716 | url=http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/pdf_extract/240/4860/1715}}</ref> |
Davis' claims were criticized for a number of scientific inaccuracies.<ref>Hines, Terrence (2008), “Zombies and Tetrodotoxin”, ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]'', Volume 32, Issue 3 (May/June), pp 60-62.</ref> Scientists doubted his assertion that Haitian witchdoctors could keep ''zombies'' in a state of pharmacologically induced trance for many years.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Booth | first1 = W. | year = 1988 | title = Voodoo Science | url = | journal = [[Science (journal)|Science]] | volume = 240 | issue = 4850| pages = 274–277 | doi = 10.1126/science.3353722 }}</ref> In 1988, a response from Davis was published in the journal ''Science'' in which he reviewed the reasons for the ''Voodoo Science'' article's harsh criticism and suggested a number of reasons that its conclusions may not have applied to his findings including the variability of formulations, possible errors in the testing performed on the samples he brought back, the possibility that the tetrodotoxin-based mixture may have had ingredients that improved blood-brain barrier transmission of the tetrodotoxin, and the nature of folk medicine with respect to success rates (i.e. that very few successes are required in order to establish credibility).<ref>{{cite journal | journal=Science | author=Davis, W. | date=24 June 1998 | title=Zombification (Letters) | doi=10.1126/science.3381089 | pages=1715–1716 | url=http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/pdf_extract/240/4860/1715}}</ref> |
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Davis presented the case of Narcisse, a man who had been a zombie for 2 years, as showing that the zombification process was more likely the result of a complex interaction of [[tetrodotoxin]], a powerful [[hallucinogen]] called ''[[Datura]]'', and cultural forces and beliefs.<ref>Guerico, Gino Del (1986) "The Secrets of Haiti's Living Dead", ''Harvard Magazine'' (Jan/Feb) 31-37. Reprinted in ''Anthropology Annual Editions'' 1987/88 188-191, note: this article has no citations to back up its claims.</ref> |
Davis presented the case of [[Clairvius Narcisse]], a man who had been a zombie for 2 years, as showing that the zombification process was more likely the result of a complex interaction of [[tetrodotoxin]], a powerful [[hallucinogen]] called ''[[Datura]]'', and cultural forces and beliefs.<ref>Guerico, Gino Del (1986) "The Secrets of Haiti's Living Dead", ''Harvard Magazine'' (Jan/Feb) 31-37. Reprinted in ''Anthropology Annual Editions'' 1987/88 188-191, note: this article has no citations to back up its claims.</ref> |
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In the book, Davis does not suggest that the zombie powder containing tetrodotoxin was used for maintaining "mental slaves" but for producing the initial death and resurrection that convinced the victim and those who knew them that they had become zombies. The zombies, such as [[Clairvius Narcisse]], were kept biddable by regular doses of the poisonous zombi cucumber, ''[[Datura stramonium]]'' which produces amnesia, delirium and suggestibility. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 09:36, 3 November 2011
| Author | Wade Davis |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Zombies |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
Publication date | 1985 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 304 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0684839295 |
| OCLC | 37462868 |
The Serpent and the Rainbow is a book (1985) by ethnobotanist and researcher Wade Davis. He investigated Haitian Vodou and the process of making zombies. He studied ethnobotanical poisons, discovering their use in a reported case of a contemporary zombie, Clairvius Narcisse.
The book inspired a dramatic horror film, The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988). Davis was very vocal about his displeasure with the final result.
Criticism
Davis' claims were criticized for a number of scientific inaccuracies.[1] Scientists doubted his assertion that Haitian witchdoctors could keep zombies in a state of pharmacologically induced trance for many years.[2] In 1988, a response from Davis was published in the journal Science in which he reviewed the reasons for the Voodoo Science article's harsh criticism and suggested a number of reasons that its conclusions may not have applied to his findings including the variability of formulations, possible errors in the testing performed on the samples he brought back, the possibility that the tetrodotoxin-based mixture may have had ingredients that improved blood-brain barrier transmission of the tetrodotoxin, and the nature of folk medicine with respect to success rates (i.e. that very few successes are required in order to establish credibility).[3]
Davis presented the case of Clairvius Narcisse, a man who had been a zombie for 2 years, as showing that the zombification process was more likely the result of a complex interaction of tetrodotoxin, a powerful hallucinogen called Datura, and cultural forces and beliefs.[4]
In the book, Davis does not suggest that the zombie powder containing tetrodotoxin was used for maintaining "mental slaves" but for producing the initial death and resurrection that convinced the victim and those who knew them that they had become zombies. The zombies, such as Clairvius Narcisse, were kept biddable by regular doses of the poisonous zombi cucumber, Datura stramonium which produces amnesia, delirium and suggestibility.
References
- ^ Hines, Terrence (2008), “Zombies and Tetrodotoxin”, Skeptical Inquirer, Volume 32, Issue 3 (May/June), pp 60-62.
- ^ Booth, W. (1988). "Voodoo Science". Science. 240 (4850): 274–277. doi:10.1126/science.3353722.
- ^ Davis, W. (24 June 1998). "Zombification (Letters)". Science: 1715–1716. doi:10.1126/science.3381089.
- ^ Guerico, Gino Del (1986) "The Secrets of Haiti's Living Dead", Harvard Magazine (Jan/Feb) 31-37. Reprinted in Anthropology Annual Editions 1987/88 188-191, note: this article has no citations to back up its claims.
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