Poison and venom.

Poison like venom is also a toxin. But unlike venom, poison can be natural or artificially made. For a poison to take effect, it does not have to reach the prey’s blood directly. Anything that is eaten or breathed and makes you feel sick is poisonous. Some mushrooms of gases are poisonous. Animals such as cane toad, slow loris and hooded pitohui also use poison as a defence mechanism. However, some – such as putter fish – can be eaten after the poison is removed. Man has used poison to, literally, deadly effect. From the ancient assassinations to contemporary state sponsored executions. Some historical big guns ended their lives with the help of poison; Socrates (hemlock), Cleopatra (asp’s bite) and Nazi leader Hermann Goring (Cyanide) Venomous creatures include snakes, spiders, wasps amounts others. Food plants like apple, plum, kidney bean, potato, rhubarb all contain small amounts of toxins; not enough to kill humans but if ingested in excess can cause discomfort Venom is a mixture of proteins and enzymes that is present in a number of animals. The first thing to know about venom is that it is “natural” (like saliva) and is produced inside an organism. The second major characteristic is that venom has to be injected. And for that there are fangs and stingers. Venoms can affect the prey’s cardiovascular system or muscles or nervous system or, worse, all three together. Most of these creatures have an immune system that protects them from their own venom. Animals use venom both as defence mechanism and to kill prey. Venoms are not always fatal. But they sure are hurtful, always. Remember that venomous colleague whose whiplash remarks you scarred?