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To: Vendome
Son 3 got bit by a mtn rattler when he was 14 (he's 21 now) 3 days in Vanderbilt Children's Hosp and 16 vials of anti venin. I didn't know this until yesterday (and thanks to an article here) but there's a difference between poisonous and venomous.

Both venomous and poisonous animals produce a toxin that is injurious or even lethal to another organism. The real difference between the two terms involves how that toxin is delivered.

Venomous organisms deliver or inject venom into other organisms, using a specialized apparatus of some kind (usually fangs or a stinger). The venom is produced in a gland attached to this apparatus. Venomous insects occur in three groups: the true bugs (order Hemiptera), the butterflies and moths (order Lepidoptera), and the ants, bees, and wasps (order Hymenoptera). Spiders, centipedes, and scorpions may also be venomous. Venomous arthropods may inject their venom into prey to immobilize it, or use it defensively against potential predators - like people!

Poisonous organisms, on the other hand, do not deliver their toxins directly. The entire body, or large parts of it, may contain the poisonous substance. These organisms may be harmful when eaten or touched. Poisonous insects include members of quite a few groups: butterflies and moths (order Lepidoptera), true bugs (order Hemiptera), beetles (order Coleoptera), and grasshoppers (order Orthoptera), and possibly others. The defensive chemicals produced by these poisonous insects may cause vomiting or blistering, or have cardiac impacts on predators that try to eat or handle them.
45 posted on 05/30/2012 11:56:34 AM PDT by Shimmer1 (Think. It isn't illegal yet.)
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To: Shimmer1

Wow. Glad your son is okay.


65 posted on 05/30/2012 2:51:49 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live athrough it anyway)
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