i'm working on my tutorial assignment on anticholinesterases at the moment, specifically organophosphates; they're used in household and agricultural pesticides and insecticides, not to mention as a biological weapon (e.g. sarin). anyhoo, this post is not to throw around big scientific words (OR IS IT???), but to share some interesting facts about emesis (or vomiting, one of many symptoms of organophosphate poisoning) i found out through the lovely wikipedia:
- Whales vomit regularly (every 7 to 10 days) as a means of the ordinary digestive process, to expel inedible things they have swallowed.
- The domestic cat is well known for its tendency to vomit, particularly when attempting to dislodge hairballs from its throat or upper gastrointestinal tract. Dogs also vomit often (frequently after eating grass) and are also known for eating their own vomit, a fact even cited in the Bible: KJV Proverbs 26:11 "As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly." (THAT IS SO NASTY! MMM, VOMIT...)
- Owls will expel the undigestible bones and fur of their meals after partial digestion of the nutritious parts rather than passing them through the digestive tract. (THAT SEEMS LIKE A VERY SMART THING TO DO; I GUESS THAT'S WHY OWLS ARE WISE.)
- Some adult birds regurgitate food to feed their young, triggered by a feather or a beak of their young. The food can be either incompletely digested or partially predigested, depending on the species. Some bird species may also use regurgitation as a form of defense, vomiting when wounded or molested. When an intruder or a predator comes near a fulmar on its nest, the bird vomits oil up to 3 feet at the enemy. Larger animals, such as wolves, may also regurgitate partially or undigested food to feed their young. (DON'T COME NEAR ME OR I'LL PROJECTILE VOMIT ON YOU!!!)
- When in danger, the sea cucumber may eject its entire digestive tract. The animal is able to re-grow another one. (THAT IS SO DAMN COOL.)
- Some large mammals, including horses, cannot or rarely vomit. Many rodents are readily killed by commercial poisons because they lack the ability to vomit, which can be problematic for some pet owners. (LESSON LEARNED: DO NOT RAISE DISGUSTING RODENTS AS PETS.)
so this is something new i've learned for the day! whoever said schoolwork isn't exciting was LYING.
CET
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
the most hilarious part of your post was the sea cucumber...i thought they weren't real..heheheheheh....i thought it was all a joke. don't mind me, i'm slow sometimes.
Have fun with this interesting yet disgusting topic.
Projectile vomiting is an interesting thing. I remember one time I was either sick or drunk.. uncontrollable vomiting happend.. I think i had soup. The vomit went like 5-6 feet like this foutain stream of brown yellow liquid with chunks. Like a wide mouthed hose. Okay that's my story.. if this is gross, it just goes to show you should post about vomit if you're unprepared for real life stories. HA!
jason: it IS gross but i would've liked to have seen that firsthand - not aimed at me of course! that would've been cool in an ultra-disgusting way...
Post a Comment