Episode Annotation: Dear Trippy Skippy

Poisonous secretion: The newt, an amphibian of the Salamandridae family secretes a poisonous liquid which can be fatal if consumed. Many mammals spit them out instantaneously due to a burning sensation that is felt on the tongue. The poison, tetrodotoxin, has no known antidote and is found in all newts, young and old – even the eggs. (It’s the same poison in puffer fish.) On July 9, 1979, a 29-year-old drunk man swallowed a rough-skinned newt (Dr. Newt’s breed) on a bet and it killed him. It is unclear whether he had a sort of toad-licking hallucinatory experience before he kicked off. But probably not.

Friday, January 25th, 2008 - 3:02 pm
Filed Under: Episode Annotations
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