16
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − + − +
the definition of poisons used here is not medically correct. I addressed this.
'''Poison''' is any substance - [[liquid]], [[solid]], or [[gas]] - that is [[toxic]] to the body, and induces [[death]] or grave [[illness]].
'''Poison''' is any substance which acts in a pathological manner. The definition of poison is complicated, identified by the Ancient Greek philsopher and scientist Paracelsus, who stated that "all substances are poisons, dependent on their dosage." Medically this is the general consensus also. Practically, however, many substances are of course innocuous in a low enough dosage - indeed one encountered in day to day life. Examples here would include nitrogen, chalk, water etc. (though water toxicity may occur following hypothalamic compromise such as after taking noradrenaline (norepinephrine in the USA) reuptake inhibitors such as MDMA/Ecstacy). Other substances are very damaging in minute doses - notably the irreversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as VX and Tabun (now employed in chemical warfare), heavy metals such as lead and mercury.
It has been noted that there is one verse at the very end of the [[Gospel of Mark]] where a "believer" may drink any poison without harm coming to him or her (Mark 16:18). It should be noted that the most reliable early manuscripts and other ancient witnesses end the Gospel of Mark with verse 8 of the 16th chapter. The verse in question is not in these versions.<ref>NIV Study Bible, Zondervan 1985, Pg. 1530</ref> Apart from this questioned section, there is no other mention of drinking poison without harm in the [[New Testament]].<ref>NIV Study Bible, Zondervan 1985, Pg. 1531</ref>
It is erroneous and extremely misleading and confusing in a clinical setting to use the words "poison" and "toxin" interchangeably. Poison is defined above, whereas a toxin is a poison derived from an organism. For example; excessive urea in the blood (from renal injury) and snake venom are toxins, whereas cadmium is a heavy metal poison but not a toxin.
==References==
==References==