When most people think of deadly venom I’m pretty sure the last thing that is crossing their mind at the same time is ‘Hey, I should put this in my mouth and swallow it.’ It is, generally speaking, not what people want to do – it usually tastes terribly bitter for one; or so I’m told.
There have been quite a few people who have thrown this piece of seemingly common sense out the window and started squeezing poison out of animals in various ways, and using it for various ends. Sometimes it’s just to see what, if anything happens. Which may seem like a question which answers itself, but most venoms don’t act in the same manner you would expect when they are ingested through the mouth into the stomach, rather than injected into the blood stream.
Traditional Chinese medicine has an interesting little medicine known as ‘Ch’an Su,’ which translates quite literally to Toad Venom. The toad in question is usually Bufo gargarizans, but can also include the Duttaphrynus melanostictus and various other venomous toads. The venom from these toads is dried, and formed into smooth, dark brown discs to be taken orally. Probably best to take it with a meal I’d think.
What was this wonder drug said to do? A number of wonderful things like ‘resolve your toxicity.’ You’d think it would increase your toxicity, but well, I’m not as ancient and wise as the Chinese culture, so I’ll go with it. Other useful things which are more observable include; reducing swelling, alleviating pain, expelling ‘summer heat’ and dampness, and opening the orifices. Which orifices? I don’t know and I’m not about to ask!
The last thing it is claimed to do is ‘awaken the spirit.’ Sounds like a morning coffee to me, and we all know its ‘Coffee 4 Eva’ in this city. If you take that brown disc and put it in warm water it would likely look somewhat like coffee.
Do you think we could get Tim Horton’s in on this for our morning commute? It could sell. Here’s the new sales pitch they should try at the point of sale; “Hello and welcome to Tim Horton’s! May we resolve your toxicity and awaken your spirit this morning?” I’d order it! Along with a Boston cream donut……
Mmmmm, Boston cream donut………where was I? Ah yes, putting venom in your mouth and swallowing it, what a horrible place to have to go back to after talking about my favourite fried and cream filled dough.
Another person who had the idea to put frog venom in his mouth and swallow it was a man by the name of Pasadas Arango. He worked with the same frog that Colombian Indians used to kill small game with poison tipped arrows.
Dying poison dart frog
What Mr. Arango did was extract a specific alkaloid from the venom of the frog Dendrobates Tinstorus (the Dyeing Poison Frog from 2 columns ago that can’t seem to catch a break even though it could kill you), an alkaloid which he named “batracine.” What batricine was found to do was paralyze its victims. Which is pretty scary, no one enjoys being paralyzed in any way at all.
This guy Pasadas however wasn’t even paralyzed with fear. He found that even in large does this alkaloid would not have any effect on him what so ever when taken orally. Yes, he personally swallowed ‘large does’ of it himself to prove his point. Sure he tried it on several fowl beforehand, but just had to prove his point; he had to go and try taking it himself. I would have believed him with his large collection of un-dead birds he kept around. Some people, however, must go that extra mile and drink venomous paralyzing substances.
It was later found that injecting this alkaloid would paralyze his fowl in even the smallest quantities. Thankfully he drew the line at self experimentation here.
Take two of these and I hope you can still call me in the morning,
Matt Yeoman
PHOTO SOURCES @ Wikipedia, Amphibian Care, Flickr
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