Did You Know This - Interesting Isn't It ?

[Bazile]

This is so interesting ( well to be it is ) and has all different angles to it ; that i did not know whether to put it in science , history or society .

I wonder ( from the cosmetic angle ) whether those who have botox treatment ( albeit in tiny amounts ) , know that it is the most poisonus substance know to man

[Bazile]

A link would help wouldn't it -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24551945

[pixie373]

Is it? I knew it was poisonous. How come it doesn't kill people when they're injected with it, then?

[Bazile]

Have you read the link ?

[sandyRoe]

I think it poisons the nerves which direct the muscles to frown. If someone was given an overdose could it leave them as though they'd had a stroke?

[paddywak]

Funnily enough I'm just reading the book "Deliver Us From Evil", in which one of the bad guys tries to kill the hero with an injection of botulinum.

[Sqad]

pixie.........to be lethal it has to enter the blood stream and in cosmetic and other procedures it doesn't.

It is used in E.N.T for one, in order to fix patients with paralysis of their vocal coed, improving their speech.

[pixie373]

Thanks, baz. I have just read the link. It wasn't there when i replied. They use an extremely dilute form. Let's hope nobody makes a mistake with it. I know digoxin tablets also are made from (poisonous) foxgloves and warfarin is rat poison. It's all in the dosage.

[pixie373]

Thank you, sqad, too. Can't be much room for error though?

[Bazile]

Obviously the amount used and where it goes does not cause a terminal problem .
I just wondered from a psychological aspect , what people would think if they knew they were being injected with ( albeit tiny amounts ) the most poisonous substance known to man

[boxtops]

I still don't understand why people DON'T know this. I wouldn't let anyone stab anything into me unless I knew exactly what it was!

[yogasun]

I believe that it is also used (correct me if I'm wrong sqad) for a treatment for dystonia. I know a couple of people with a type of tremor where I think it is used.

[beso]

There is a new variant of botulism toxin that is even more deadly. The creators won't even release the name of it until an antidote has been created.

[Peter Pedant]

from wiki: The seven serologically distinct toxin types are designated A to G

This was established by a fella called Baillie in Porton Down in the sixties. Parallel to this was the disivion of tetanus toxin into tetanospasmin and tetanolysin. The tetanus fella got fame and a pay rise and Baillie got diddly squat. I make a point of seeing if he ever gets referenced for some good lab work and the poor old b+gger has slipped into complete obscurity.

wiki article not bad