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Description
A law that seems to condemn zombie creation went into effect in Haiti in 1835. Article 246 of the Haitian Penal Code classifies the administration of a substance that creates a prolonged period of lethargy without causing death as attempted murder. If the substance causes the appearance of death and results in the burial of the victim, the act is classified as murder.

Some of the common ingredients in "zombie powder" samples from different bokors (vodou priests) in Haiti were:

One or more species of puffer fish, which often contain a deadly neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin

A marine toad (Bufo marinus), which produces numerous toxic substances

A hyla tree frog (Osteopilus dominicensis), which secretes an irritating (but not deadly) substance

Human remains

Some bokor also describe feeding zombies a paste that includes Datura stramonium, locally known as "zombie's cucumber." Called jimson weed in the U.S., this plant causes fever, hallucinations and amnesia.

An impromptu assemblage morbide consisting of a human skull (borrowed from a neighbor), a shark's jaw, a dried puffer fish, a dead bird (found on 14th Street) and the obligatory odd scrap of the perennially versatile fake leopard fur fabric.

image: from a scanned 35mm black & white film negative. NYC 1982

Description
A law that seems to condemn zombie creation went into effect in Haiti in 1835. Article 246 of the Haitian Penal Code classifies the administration of a substance that creates a prolonged period of lethargy without causing death as attempted murder. If the substance causes the appearance of death and results in the burial of the victim, the act is classified as murder.

Some of the common ingredients in "zombie powder" samples from different bokors (vodou priests) in Haiti were:

One or more species of puffer fish, which often contain a deadly neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin

A marine toad (Bufo marinus), which produces numerous toxic substances

A hyla tree frog (Osteopilus dominicensis), which secretes an irritating (but not deadly) substance

Human remains

Some bokor also describe feeding zombies a paste that includes Datura stramonium, locally known as "zombie's cucumber." Called jimson weed in the U.S., this plant causes fever, hallucinations and amnesia.

An impromptu assemblage morbide consisting of a human skull (borrowed from a neighbor), a shark's jaw, a dried puffer fish, a dead bird (found on 14th Street) and the obligatory odd scrap of the perennially versatile fake leopard fur fabric.

image: from a scanned 35mm black & white film negative. NYC 1982