See also the earlier review of this book at https://blogs.sciencemag.org/books/2018/06/19/the-ascent-of-... .

Interesting quote:

"One day in December 1893, she [his wife] confused his chloral [sleeping potion] and the magnesia bottles, giving him a magnesia-sized dose of chloral. Within hours he was dead, though not before observing: 'My poor darling, you have killed your John.'"