Chapter 12: Slaying
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Published:08 Jun 2021
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Product Type: Popular Science
Vampirology: The Science of Horror's Most Famous Fiend, The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2021, ch. 12, pp. 231-250.
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When all else fails, there is nothing left to do but to destroy troublesome vampires. But how do you kill something that is already dead? A number of methods have been tried and tested over the centuries. Chemical methods of destruction include ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), water and silver bullets. Burning is another popular choice, but just how flammable could a vampire be? The most well known method is, of course, a stake through the heart; but in practice it is far from easy. This chapter explores why are certain types of wood might be favoured in different parts of the world. Sometimes it might be because of their hardness or resistance to splintering, but in other cases there might be extra toxic components that make sure the dead remain so.