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Alkaloid Poisoning
Topic Started: Dec 29 2014, 10:14 PM (456 Views)
Neco the Nightwraith
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Living the Right Life
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I'm rereading that section in Foreigner where Bren is poisoned by the cup of tea, and for the first time, this question occurred to me:

How on EARTH is running cold water over someone's head supposed to help with treating alkaloid poisoning?

Does it have something to with regulating body temperature? Other than that, it makes absolutely no sense to me. XD Maybe someone else knows. I don't think we've ever talked about this here.

Also, poor Banichi. I think he may have received a scare almost as bad as Bren's.
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hrhspence
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Perhaps the alkaloid in question dilated the arteries causing small aneurysms and the cold water was intended to help constrict them?
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BlueCatShip
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A very cold-water bath (immersion or shower) is sometimes used to treat fever, and yes, it would tend to cause some constriction of blood capillaries, other vessels. I understand a rubdown with rubbing alcohol is also used for this at times.

But it wouldn't leach out the alkaloids in the human's system, I don't think.

I'd expect either something to induce vomiting; or else to absorb and neutralize the contaminants would be used. The latter is why charcoal is sometimes given.

Possibility: An ateva's natural first reaction might be to think an ateva had simply had too much of a good thing, perhaps, and so, would not think of it right away as poisonous? So he or she might use folk remedies or basic care / first aid used for what, in atevi, is not harmful?

However, I'd expect people like lady Ilisidi, Cenedi, Banichi, Tabini-aiji, and so on to be quick-witted and educated enough in human biological differences to know what to do instead of what works for atevi.

So I don't have a good answer, only a possibility.
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Neco the Nightwraith
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He did receive a couple of injections in his treatment, and then a day or two of soup, wafers and milk (and fruit juice) to flush his system.

I dunno why I never thought about it, but constricting blood vessels, treating fever, etc (it was a stimulant) is probably as good as reasons as any for the treatment.
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Hakkikt
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Seem to remember Ilisidi-ji did it deliberately to see what Bren would do [drinking without thinking, or not], and to test Banichi's strength of Association.....

Kktktktt Hkkt 1012 [2312GMT, 1612PST] Th. 1 Jan. 2015.
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