Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1988 Sep; 9(3): 226-7.

Copper sulfate. Not a harmless chemical.

Lamont DL, Duflou JA.

Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa.

We report a case of fatal copper sulfate poisoning of a 30-year-old woman following treatment by an iNyanga ("witch-doctor"). The patient died 2 days later, having lapsed into a coma. Postmortem examination revealed that the patient had died of aspiration pneumonia.