I would bet eating a hot dog off such a spike would be obviously inedible
within one bite!

I remember trying to roast marshmellows on Aspen sticks --ugh! Whew...

John
no, the OTHER JoHn

"jOhN" wrote in message
. ..
Elliot Richmond wrote:
On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 16:08:35 GMT, Harold Robbins
wrote:



WARNING: Snopes is not credible. Do a google search and you will find
reports around the world about oleander poisoning. Snopes is and
interesting page but they are not credible and I would not place the
lives of human beings on the accuracy of their reports.


On the contrary, Snopes is very credible.

Neither Snopes nor anyone else is questioning the toxicity of
oleander. The Snopes article was ONLY about the urban legend of a
family or Boy Scout troop or whoever suffering fatal poisoning after
toasting stuff on a fire using oleander sticks. All of the sources you
give affirm the toxicity of oleander, but none of them mention this
incident.



Elliot Richmond
Freelance Science Writer and Editor

Trust a darn science writer to make us stick with the facts..... ;-)

"Harold Robbins" wrote in message
m...


cat daddy wrote:


Oleanders are easy to root but they are poisonous to humans. Make sure
your children are old enough to understand not to chew on the stalks. A
family died painfully after using oleander stalks for barBQ skewers.


Urban Legends
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/poison/oleander.htm

"Origins: This sorrowful tale of the fatal poisoning by oleander
sticks
used to roast treats over a campfire has been part of the urban legend
canon
for decades...

A version of it appears in a gardening book published in England in
1886...

Though we've searched for news stories about such a tragedy, we haven't
found any, not even an account of a non-fatal poisoning. "


WARNING: Snopes is not credible. Do a google search and you will find
reports around the world about oleander poisoning. Snopes is and
interesting page but they are not credible and I would not place the
lives of human beings on the accuracy of their reports.

Please actually read the article, and then get back to me. Elliot has
already given you a clue as to what to look for.

http://www.indegene.com/Main/Info/in...rPoisoning.asp

... more than you wanted to know about oleander poisoning. ... Here is a
link that might be useful: british journal oleander poison ...
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/l...472313747.html

Here is a link to THe Harvard Medical School:


http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtPr...1437.html?d=dm
tContent&hide=t&k=basePrint

jOhN wrote:

Elliot Richmond wrote:

On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 16:08:35 GMT, Harold Robbins
wrote:



WARNING: Snopes is not credible. Do a google search and you will
find reports around the world about oleander poisoning. Snopes is
and interesting page but they are not credible and I would not place
the lives of human beings on the accuracy of their reports.



On the contrary, Snopes is very credible.
Neither Snopes nor anyone else is questioning the toxicity of
oleander. The Snopes article was ONLY about the urban legend of a
family or Boy Scout troop or whoever suffering fatal poisoning after
toasting stuff on a fire using oleander sticks. All of the sources you
give affirm the toxicity of oleander, but none of them mention this
incident.



Elliot Richmond
Freelance Science Writer and Editor


Trust a darn science writer to make us stick with the facts..... ;-)

Perhaps he works for Snopes? I don't know. But the toxicity of the
oleander is well established by medical people, and the story of the
family who died using the plant is much better established than Snopes is.


Harold

On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 23:27:54 GMT, Harold Robbins
Perhaps he works for Snopes?

I have no connection to Snopes. It is a valuable resource.

I don't know. But the toxicity of the
oleander is well established by medical people,

That has been established and no one questions it.

and the story of the
family who died using the plant is much better established than Snopes is.

Okay, how about some details? Where did this occur and when? What were
their names? In what newspaper was it reported? What reliable medical
journal has reported on it? Is there a medical examiner's report?

Have you read the Snopes article?

Inquiring minds want to know.


Elliot Richmond
Freelance Science Writer and Editor

Elliot Richmond wrote:


Okay, how about some details? Where did this occur and when? What were
their names? In what newspaper was it reported? What reliable medical
journal has reported on it? Is there a medical examiner's report?

Have you read the Snopes article?

Inquiring minds want to know.


I'm not a skilled researcher and it isn't that important to me. But
Snopes isn't either and their nonsense too often is outrageously in
error. So I no longer count on their "research".


Harold

"Harold Robbins" wrote in message
m...


Elliot Richmond wrote:


Okay, how about some details? Where did this occur and when? What were
their names? In what newspaper was it reported? What reliable medical
journal has reported on it? Is there a medical examiner's report?

Have you read the Snopes article?

Inquiring minds want to know.


I'm not a skilled researcher

That's why Snopes exists for us all to use.

and it isn't that important to me.

But, perpetuating urban legends is? Geebus, Harold, you're no fun.

But
Snopes isn't either and their nonsense too often is outrageously in
error. So I no longer count on their "research".

I take it you just go with gut reaction, then? Well, I just spent a bit
of time researching and found nothing but the anecdotal tales. Someone
claimed the family was in Arizona, and an Arizona resident chimed in that
they never heard of it. None of the medical discussions mentioned an entire
family or troop of boy scouts dying. Odd, no?

On Tue, 29 Mar 2005 20:52:59 GMT, Harold Robbins
wrote:

I'm not a skilled researcher and it isn't that important to me. But
Snopes isn't either and their nonsense too often is outrageously in
error. So I no longer count on their "research".

Could you give me an example of Snopes articles that are in error?


Elliot Richmond
Freelance Science Writer and Editor

Oleander (correct name Nerium oleander)

Common Names: Oleander

Description: Shrub that grows to 20 feet. Long Narrow
leaves up to 10 inches long. Flowers form in small clusters
and are red, pink or white. Seeds develop in long narrow
capsules which are 3/8 inch in diameter by 5 inches long and
are dispersed by the wind.

Toxic Part: Whole plant, including smoke from burning and
water in which the flowers have been placed.

Symptoms: Pain in the oral cavity, nausea, vomiting,
cramping, and diarrhea. g

Source: http://www.takingthelead.co.uk/2/Hea...isonplants.htm


Oleander (Nerium oleander L.) leaves and branches. Entire plant and the
water used for cut plants affects the heart, produces severe digestive
upset. Extremely poisonous, can cause death. Cardiovascular system affected
by the glycosides oleandrin, oleandroside and nerioside. Plant may also
cause dermatitis.

In article et,
"g" wrote:

Source: http://www.takingthelead.co.uk/2/Hea...isonplants.htm


Oleander (Nerium oleander L.) leaves and branches. Entire plant and the
water used for cut plants affects the heart, produces severe digestive
upset. Extremely poisonous, can cause death. Cardiovascular system affected
by the glycosides oleandrin, oleandroside and nerioside. Plant may also
cause dermatitis.



I've got dozens of baby Japanese Ligustrum he can have for free...

Katra ducking and running
--
K.