1 00:00:00,042 --> 00:00:04,959 FUNDING FORTHE DESERT SPEAKS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY ASARCO INC. 2 00:00:04,959 --> 00:00:07,542 AN INTEGRATED PRODUCER OF NON-FERROUS METALS AND 3 00:00:07,542 --> 00:00:11,334 OTHER INDUSTRIAL MINERALS AND PRODUCTS. ASARCO INC. 4 00:00:11,334 --> 00:00:13,876 ADDING VALUE TO NATURE'S RESOURCES. 5 00:00:13,876 --> 00:00:16,375 AND HEADQUARTERED IN TUCSON, ARIZONA, 6 00:00:16,375 --> 00:00:18,792 INTERGROUP HEALTHCARE CORPORATION IS A MANAGED 7 00:00:18,792 --> 00:00:22,334 HEALTHCARE COMPANY SERVING MORE THAN A QUARTER MILLION MEMBERS. 8 00:00:22,334 --> 00:00:26,626 AND BY, THE ARIZONA GAME AND FISH HERITAGE FUND, 9 00:00:26,626 --> 00:00:31,042 ARIZONA'S LOTTERY DOLLARS WORKING FOR WILDLIFE. 10 00:00:31,042 --> 00:01:05,876 [MUSIC AND NATURE SOUNDS] 11 00:01:05,876 --> 00:01:08,959 WHEN IT COMES TO SURVIVAL GEAR YOU'D HAVE TO SAY 12 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:11,334 NATURE OUTFITS EVERY LIVING THING PRETTY WELL. 13 00:01:11,334 --> 00:01:14,918 BUT THE SURVIVAL KIT IS DIFFERENT IN EVERY CASE, 14 00:01:14,918 --> 00:01:17,459 FOR SOME IT'S SIMPLE SIZE AND STRENGTH, 15 00:01:17,459 --> 00:01:19,125 FOR OTHERS THE KIT MIGHT INCLUDE A HARD 16 00:01:19,125 --> 00:01:22,459 SHELL OR SHARP STUFF, THORNS AND TEETH. AND THEN 17 00:01:22,459 --> 00:01:25,999 THERE'S A LARGE BUNCH THAT GET SPECIAL CHEMICAL WEAPONS. 18 00:01:25,999 --> 00:01:28,209 THESE LIVING THINGS WOULD TEND TO BE PRETTY 19 00:01:28,209 --> 00:01:31,501 VULNERABLE WITHOUT THEIR POISONS AND TOXINS. 20 00:01:31,501 --> 00:01:33,626 THEY'RE MOSTLY PLANTS AND SMALLER CREATURES. 21 00:01:33,626 --> 00:01:35,709 AND THE SONORAN DESERT'S GOT A GOOD MEASURE OF 22 00:01:35,709 --> 00:01:40,292 'EM.I SUPPOSE THE DESERT'S BEST-KNOWN POISON IS 23 00:01:40,292 --> 00:01:43,501 LOCATED IN THE BUSINESS END OF A RATTLESNAKE. 24 00:01:43,501 --> 00:01:46,417 RATTLERS AREN'T THE ONLY VENOMOUS 25 00:01:46,417 --> 00:01:48,999 REPTILES HERE, THERE ARE OTHERS. 26 00:01:48,999 --> 00:01:50,999 BUT THEY DO HAVE A WAY OF COMMANDING OUR 27 00:01:50,999 --> 00:01:56,501 ATTENTION.VERTEBRATE VENOMS FALL INTO TWO 28 00:01:56,501 --> 00:01:59,334 BROAD, GENERALIZED CATEGORIES. 29 00:01:59,334 --> 00:02:03,999 SOME ARE NEUROTOXINS, THAT IS THEY HAVE AN EFFECT IN 30 00:02:03,999 --> 00:02:06,209 SOME WAY ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, 31 00:02:06,209 --> 00:02:08,626 AND OTHERS ARE HEMOTOXINS, WHICH AFFECT THE 32 00:02:08,626 --> 00:02:12,167 CIRCULATORY SYSTEM IN SOME MANNER. 33 00:02:12,167 --> 00:02:14,584 NEUROTOXINS ARE BEST REPRESENTED BY THE BLACK 34 00:02:14,584 --> 00:02:20,999 WIDOW SPIDER, THE BARK SCORPION, AND THE CORAL SNAKE. 35 00:02:20,999 --> 00:02:25,459 HEMOTOXINS ARE PROBABLY BEST REPRESENTED 36 00:02:25,459 --> 00:02:28,959 BY THE RATTLESNAKES IN GENERAL. 37 00:02:28,959 --> 00:02:31,626 AT LEAST SOME POPULATIONS OF THE MOJAVE AND ROCK 38 00:02:31,626 --> 00:02:35,375 RATTLESNAKES ALSO POSSESS A POTENT NEUROTOXIN. 39 00:02:35,375 --> 00:02:40,999 THE VENOMS ARE CHARACTERISTICALLY 40 00:02:40,999 --> 00:02:43,459 DELIVERED BY STINGING OR BITING. 41 00:02:43,459 --> 00:02:45,999 AND THIS HELPS DISTINGUISH THEM FROM OTHER TOXINS OR 42 00:02:45,999 --> 00:02:50,459 POISONS, WHICH ARE INGESTED BY PREDATORS, 43 00:02:50,459 --> 00:02:54,626 OFTEN PRODUCING AN EMETIC REACTION; 44 00:02:54,626 --> 00:02:58,792 THEY'RE FOUL TASTING, OFTEN CAUSING NAUSEA AND VOMITING, 45 00:02:58,792 --> 00:03:03,125 AND GENERALLY MAKE THAT ANIMAL DISTASTEFUL TO THE PREDATOR. 46 00:03:03,125 --> 00:03:11,959 NOW IN THE CASE OF TRUE VENOMS, THE INJECTION MECHANISM 47 00:03:11,959 --> 00:03:15,918 IS OFTEN THROUGH MEANS OF SPECIALIZED FANGS OR 48 00:03:15,918 --> 00:03:21,375 STINGING STRUCTURES, AS IN THE CASE OF SCORPIONS. 49 00:03:21,375 --> 00:03:27,999 THE VENOM APPARATUS OF THE RATTLESNAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, 50 00:03:27,999 --> 00:03:32,042 IS VERY MUCH LIKE THAT OF THE MEDICAL HYPODERMIC SYRINGE. 51 00:03:32,042 --> 00:03:36,167 THE VENOM GLAND, WHICH IS LOCATED BEHIND THE EYE IN 52 00:03:36,167 --> 00:03:39,999 THE TEMPORAL REGION OF THE HEAD IN THE RATTLESNAKE, 53 00:03:39,999 --> 00:03:41,999 IS CONNECTED BY A DUCT TO A HOLLOW, 54 00:03:41,999 --> 00:03:45,959 TUBULAR FANG MOUNTED ON A MOVEABLE BONE IN THE FRONT 55 00:03:45,959 --> 00:03:51,250 OF THE FACE.RATTLESNAKES OCCUPY VIRTUALLY EVERY 56 00:03:51,250 --> 00:03:54,999 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND TYPICALLY ARE 57 00:03:54,999 --> 00:03:57,250 SIT-AND-WAIT, OR AMBUSH PREDATORS. 58 00:03:57,250 --> 00:04:05,584 THEY COME OUT, DETECT THE NATURAL TRAILS OR PATTERNS 59 00:04:05,584 --> 00:04:08,999 OF ACTIVITY BY THEIR PREY BY MEANS OF SCENT, 60 00:04:08,999 --> 00:04:12,334 AND THEN ESTABLISH AN AMBUSH STATION NEAR THAT 61 00:04:12,334 --> 00:04:14,999 AREA WAITING FOR THE PREY TO COME ALONG. 62 00:04:14,999 --> 00:04:16,292 AND OF COURSE WHEN IT DOES, THEY DETECT 63 00:04:16,292 --> 00:04:20,626 IT BY THEIR SENSE OF SMELL, BY VISION, OR BY MEANS 64 00:04:20,626 --> 00:04:26,501 OF INFRARED RECEPTION USING THE HEAT-DETECTING PITS TO DIRECT 65 00:04:26,501 --> 00:04:31,999 THEIR STRIKE VERY ACCURATELY TO ENVENOMATE THE PREY. 66 00:04:31,999 --> 00:04:40,334 WHEN RATTLESNAKES DELIVER THE VENOM, 67 00:04:40,334 --> 00:04:46,042 THEY TYPICALLY WITHDRAW RATHER THAN HOLDING ONTO 68 00:04:46,042 --> 00:04:48,459 THE PREY, ALLOWING THE PREY TO RETREAT, 69 00:04:48,459 --> 00:04:50,459 USUALLY A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE IT IS 70 00:04:50,459 --> 00:04:54,584 IMMOBILIZED BY THE LETHAL COMPONENTS OF THE VENOM. 71 00:04:54,584 --> 00:04:58,876 AT THIS POINT, THE SNAKE EFFECTIVELY SWITCHES OFF 72 00:04:58,876 --> 00:05:02,792 ITS OCULAR VISION AND RESORTS ENTIRELY TO 73 00:05:02,792 --> 00:05:06,918 OLFACTION OR SCENT TRACKING COMBINED WITH THE 74 00:05:06,918 --> 00:05:10,083 INFRARED RECEPTION OF THE TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE 75 00:05:10,083 --> 00:05:26,167 PIT. NOW IN THE CASE OF THE 76 00:05:26,167 --> 00:05:29,292 CORAL SNAKE, THE FANGS ARE MUCH SHORTER, 77 00:05:29,292 --> 00:05:34,167 THEY ARE LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE UPPER JAW. 78 00:05:34,167 --> 00:05:38,417 BUT THEY ARE SO SHORT AS TO NOT REQUIRE THIS 79 00:05:38,417 --> 00:05:43,626 MOBILITY, WHICH WE SEE IN THE VIPER FANGS. 80 00:05:43,626 --> 00:05:47,999 AND THE VENOM IS VERY POTENT AND PRIMARILY 81 00:05:47,999 --> 00:05:50,501 AFFECTING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM; IT'S A NEUROTOXIN. 82 00:05:50,501 --> 00:05:55,999 THE ARIZONA CORAL SNAKE IS A SPECIALIZED FEEDER, 83 00:05:55,999 --> 00:06:01,999 PREYING ALMOST ENTIRELY ON THE HARMLESS BURROWING BLIND SNAKES. 84 00:06:01,999 --> 00:06:04,459 THEY ALSO EAT OTHER SMALL SNAKES, AND THESE 85 00:06:04,459 --> 00:06:08,417 SEEM TO BE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO THEIR VENOM. 86 00:06:08,417 --> 00:06:11,501 THERE ARE NO RECORDED HUMAN DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO 87 00:06:11,501 --> 00:06:21,083 THE CORAL SNAKE IN ARIZONA. IN ADDITION TO THE 88 00:06:21,083 --> 00:06:23,125 ELEVEN SPECIES OF RATTLESNAKES AND ONE 89 00:06:23,125 --> 00:06:25,834 SPECIES OF CORAL SNAKE FOUND IN ARIZONA, THERE ARE 90 00:06:25,834 --> 00:06:30,250 AT LEAST TEN SPECIES OF MILDLY VENOMOUS REAR-FANGED SNAKES. 91 00:06:30,250 --> 00:06:33,584 NOW NONE OF THESE ARE CONSIDERED TO BE DANGEROUS 92 00:06:33,584 --> 00:06:38,459 TO HUMANS, BUT THEY ALL HAVE MILD TOXINS PRODUCED 93 00:06:38,459 --> 00:06:41,584 BY A SPECIALIZED SALIVARY GLAND CALLED THE 94 00:06:41,584 --> 00:06:45,292 DUVERNOY'S GLAND, WHICH EMPTIES AT THE BASE OF 95 00:06:45,292 --> 00:06:50,209 GENERALLY ELONGATED AND OFTEN GROOVED TEETH 96 00:06:50,209 --> 00:06:57,083 IN THE REAR OF THE UPPER JAW. 97 00:06:57,083 --> 00:07:00,209 THE GILA MONSTER IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTING 98 00:07:00,209 --> 00:07:04,709 AMONG VENOMOUS ANIMALS IN THAT IT HAS EVOLVED A 99 00:07:04,709 --> 00:07:09,999 VENOM WHICH IS CONSIDERED TO BE ENTIRELY DEFENSIVE IN FUNCTION. 100 00:07:09,999 --> 00:07:14,167 A GILA MONSTER'S FEED PRIMARILY ON THE EGGS AND 101 00:07:14,167 --> 00:07:16,876 NESTLING OF BIRDS AND SMALL MAMMALS, 102 00:07:16,876 --> 00:07:21,667 WHICH THEY GENERALLY FIND IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE IN A 103 00:07:21,667 --> 00:07:24,999 HELPLESS CONDITION WHERE VENOM WOULD HAVE NO 104 00:07:24,999 --> 00:07:28,999 APPRECIABLE BENEFIT AS A FOOD-GETTING MECHANISM. 105 00:07:28,999 --> 00:07:33,292 THE VENOM GLANDS OF THE GILA MONSTER ARE LOCATED 106 00:07:33,292 --> 00:07:35,334 IN THE LOWER JAW RATHER THAN IN 107 00:07:35,334 --> 00:07:38,042 THE TEMPORAL REGION AS IN VENOMOUS SNAKES, 108 00:07:38,042 --> 00:07:40,999 AND COMMUNICATE TO DEEPLY-GROOVED TEETH. 109 00:07:40,999 --> 00:07:47,834 AND THE GROOVES ACTUALLY CONTAIN THE TOXIC SALIVA 110 00:07:47,834 --> 00:07:49,999 OR VENOM AT THE TIME THE BITE OCCURS. 111 00:07:49,999 --> 00:07:55,876 THE GILA MONSTER IS ONE OF ONLY TWO KNOWN SPECIES OF 112 00:07:55,876 --> 00:08:00,083 VENOMOUS LIZARDS LIVING IN THE WORLD TODAY. 113 00:08:00,083 --> 00:08:07,125 AT ONE TIME THEY WERE MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD THAN THEY ARE NOW. 114 00:08:07,125 --> 00:08:09,417 BUT THE GILA MONSTER AND ITS CLOSE RELATIVE, 115 00:08:09,417 --> 00:08:11,626 THE MEXICAN BEADED LIZARD, PRODUCE VENOMS WHICH ARE 116 00:08:11,626 --> 00:08:15,918 VERY SIMILAR AND USE THEM IN VERY SIMILAR WAYS.IT IS 117 00:08:15,918 --> 00:08:19,083 OFTEN DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO REALIZE AN 118 00:08:19,083 --> 00:08:23,083 INHERENT VALUE IN ANIMALS WHICH CAN 119 00:08:23,083 --> 00:08:25,918 BITE, STING, OR OTHERWISE CAUSE PAIN. 120 00:08:25,918 --> 00:08:32,083 THESE ANIMALS ARE PRODUCTS OF PERIODS OF GREAT 121 00:08:32,083 --> 00:08:35,459 EVOLUTIONARY SOPHISTICATION AND IN MANY 122 00:08:35,459 --> 00:08:39,125 CASES ACTUALLY BENEFIT HUMAN KIND LIVING IN CLOSE 123 00:08:39,125 --> 00:08:42,042 PROXIMITY TO THEM BY CONTROLLING OTHER ANIMALS 124 00:08:42,042 --> 00:08:52,250 WHICH ACTUALLY POSE A GREATER THREAT TO HUMAN WELFARE. 125 00:08:52,250 --> 00:08:56,209 THE RATTLES ON A RATTLESNAKE ARE THERE TO SOUND A WARNING. 126 00:08:56,209 --> 00:08:59,501 MOST OF THE DESERT'S TOXIC PLANTS GIVE A WARNING, TOO. 127 00:08:59,501 --> 00:09:03,334 NOT WITH A SOUND BUT WITH A TASTE. 128 00:09:03,334 --> 00:09:04,918 A CRITTER HAS TO BE AWFULLY HUNGRY, 129 00:09:04,918 --> 00:09:08,125 OR KNOT HEADED, TO MAKE A WHOLE MEAL OUT OF ANY OF 130 00:09:08,125 --> 00:09:11,000 THESE PLANTS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN SUCH A HELPFUL 131 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:14,584 HINT.MOST OF THE PLANTS IN THE SONORAN 132 00:09:14,584 --> 00:09:17,125 DESERT ARE TOXIC, AT LEAST MILDLY TO HUMANS. 133 00:09:17,125 --> 00:09:20,834 SO THAT YOU SHOULD NEVER JUST GRAB A HANDFUL OF 134 00:09:20,834 --> 00:09:23,709 SOME PLANT THAT YOU DON'T KNOW VERY WELL AND EAT IT, 135 00:09:23,709 --> 00:09:26,167 BECAUSE IT'LL PROBABLY MAKE YOU SICK. 136 00:09:26,167 --> 00:09:28,918 THERE'S AN UNDERLYING CAUSE FOR THIS TOXICITY, 137 00:09:28,918 --> 00:09:31,125 AND THAT IS THAT PLANTS ARE NEAR THE 138 00:09:31,125 --> 00:09:33,375 FOUNDATION OF THE FOOD CHAIN FOR THIS PLANET. 139 00:09:33,375 --> 00:09:37,999 ALL ANIMALS DEPEND DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ON PLANTS AS FOOD. 140 00:09:37,999 --> 00:09:41,167 AND MOST PLANTS HAVE EVOLVED TOXINS 141 00:09:41,167 --> 00:09:46,000 TO KEEP ANIMALS FROM EATING THEM. 142 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:47,042 AND IT'S A CONSTANT EVOLUTIONARY CONTEST. 143 00:09:47,042 --> 00:09:49,918 SOME ANIMALS HAVE ADAPTED TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE 144 00:09:49,918 --> 00:09:52,792 TOXINS OF CERTAIN PLANTS, SO THAT ALMOST ANY PLANT 145 00:09:52,792 --> 00:09:54,876 CAN BE EATEN BY SOME ANIMAL. 146 00:09:54,876 --> 00:09:56,999 BUT ANY GIVEN PLANT GENERALLY CANNOT BE EATEN 147 00:09:56,999 --> 00:09:58,999 BY A WIDE VARIETY OF ANIMALS, 148 00:09:58,999 --> 00:10:01,334 BECAUSE IT'S TOXIC TO MOST OF THEM. 149 00:10:01,334 --> 00:10:04,417 THESE TOXINS ARE THERE FOR DEFENSIVE IN PURPOSE. 150 00:10:04,417 --> 00:10:05,999 THERE'S NO PLANT THAT WE KNOW OF 151 00:10:05,999 --> 00:10:11,834 THAT USES TOXINS IN AN OFFENSIVE WAY. 152 00:10:11,834 --> 00:10:14,876 OF THE RANGE OF TOXIC PLANTS THAT YOU WOULD 153 00:10:14,876 --> 00:10:16,834 ENCOUNTER IN ANY AREA, INCLUDING THE SONORAN 154 00:10:16,834 --> 00:10:19,999 DESERT, MOST OF THEM WOULD NOT KILL YOU IF YOU ATE THEM. 155 00:10:19,999 --> 00:10:23,999 THE COMMONEST SYMPTOMS FOR EATING AN UNKNOWN PLANT 156 00:10:23,999 --> 00:10:26,999 IS VOMITING AND DIARRHEA--GASTRIC UPSET. 157 00:10:26,999 --> 00:10:29,999 AND THEY RANGE FROM THERE ON UP TO 158 00:10:29,999 --> 00:10:32,542 PLANTS THAT EVEN A TASTE IS DEADLY. 159 00:10:32,542 --> 00:10:34,167 BUT THOSE ARE FORTUNATELY VERY FEW, 160 00:10:34,167 --> 00:10:37,167 AND ANYBODY WHO LIVES IN A GIVEN AREA CAN EASILY 161 00:10:37,167 --> 00:10:41,542 LEARN THOSE PARTICULAR PLANTS. 162 00:10:41,542 --> 00:10:43,042 ONE OF THE LESS TOXIC PLANTS, 163 00:10:43,042 --> 00:10:45,292 WHICH IS IN THE MAJORITY THAT YOU WOULD FIND HERE, 164 00:10:45,292 --> 00:10:47,999 WOULD BE BIRD OF PARADISE, THE CAESALPINIUS SPECIES. 165 00:10:47,999 --> 00:10:49,999 THE SEEDS OF THIS PLANT, WHEN THEY'RE MATURE, 166 00:10:49,999 --> 00:10:53,626 ARE TOXIC IN THAT THEY CAUSE SEVER DIARRHEA AND 167 00:10:53,626 --> 00:10:55,999 VOMITING, BUT THERE'S NO LASTING EFFECT. 168 00:10:55,999 --> 00:10:58,209 RECOVERY IS ALMOST ALWAYS COMPLETE. 169 00:10:58,209 --> 00:11:00,667 SOME OF THE MORE TOXIC PLANTS WOULD BE THINGS 170 00:11:00,667 --> 00:11:01,999 LIKE OUR NATIVE TOBACCO SPECIES. 171 00:11:01,999 --> 00:11:06,999 THE WILD SPECIES HAVE EVEN MORE OF THE SAME COMPOUNDS 172 00:11:06,999 --> 00:11:08,999 THAT MAKE CIGARETTES POISONOUS. 173 00:11:08,999 --> 00:11:11,417 TO THE EXTENT THAT MOST OF THE LOCAL TOBACCO SPECIES, 174 00:11:11,417 --> 00:11:14,209 INCLUDING THE INTRODUCED TREE TOBACCO FROM SOUTH 175 00:11:14,209 --> 00:11:18,918 AMERICA, HAVE A VERY HIGH MORTALITY RATE TO PEOPLE 176 00:11:18,918 --> 00:11:21,501 WHO INGEST ANY PART OF IT OR SMOKE ANY PART OF THIS 177 00:11:21,501 --> 00:11:27,125 PLANT.DATURA, ALSO CALLED ANGEL'S TRUMPET, 178 00:11:27,125 --> 00:11:29,999 IS ANOTHER VERY COMMON PLANT IN THIS REGION, 179 00:11:29,999 --> 00:11:32,999 WHICH IS EXTREMELY TOXIC. 180 00:11:32,999 --> 00:11:35,417 ALL PARTS OF THIS PLANT ARE POISONOUS, 181 00:11:35,417 --> 00:11:38,626 BUT ESPECIALLY THE SEEDS, WHICH HAVE BEEN USED, 182 00:11:38,626 --> 00:11:40,250 AND STILL ARE OCCASIONALLY USED, 183 00:11:40,250 --> 00:11:45,999 IN SHAMAN CEREMONIES.IN THE TROPICAL RIPARIAN 184 00:11:45,999 --> 00:11:48,083 AREAS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THE SONORAN DESERT, 185 00:11:48,083 --> 00:11:50,417 THERE'S A WELL-KNOWN PLANT THAT'S ALSO 186 00:11:50,417 --> 00:11:52,999 USED IN GARDENS CALLED SPIDER LILY. 187 00:11:52,999 --> 00:11:55,042 IT'S BEEN KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THAT THIS PLANT IS 188 00:11:55,042 --> 00:11:57,501 QUITE TOXIC, BUT VERY RECENTLY IT'S BEEN 189 00:11:57,501 --> 00:11:59,459 DISCOVERED THAT THIS TOXIN IS A VERY POWERFUL 190 00:11:59,459 --> 00:12:02,459 ANTI-TUMOR AGENT AND IS NOW BEING RESEARCHED 191 00:12:02,459 --> 00:12:04,999 VIGOROUSLY AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY 192 00:12:04,999 --> 00:12:07,999 FOR ITS ANTI-CANCER PROPERTIES. 193 00:12:07,999 --> 00:12:13,250 THE GROUNDSELS ARE IN THE GENUS SENECIO. 194 00:12:13,250 --> 00:12:15,334 THERE'S OVER A THOUSAND SPECIES WORLDWIDE, 195 00:12:15,334 --> 00:12:17,959 AND MOST OF THEM ARE EXTREMELY TOXIC. 196 00:12:17,959 --> 00:12:20,125 WE HAVE A VERY COMMON ONE HERE IN OUR RIPARIAN AREAS. 197 00:12:20,125 --> 00:12:25,375 TWO OR THREE LEAVES IS PROBABLY ENOUGH TO KILL A PERSON. 198 00:12:25,375 --> 00:12:26,999 IT HAS A VERY POWERFUL TOXIN IN IT THAT 199 00:12:26,999 --> 00:12:28,999 DESTROYS THE LIVER AND, AS YOU KNOW, 200 00:12:28,999 --> 00:12:30,167 YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOUR LIVER. 201 00:12:30,167 --> 00:12:34,999 SO IT'S A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS PLANT.SIMILARLY, 202 00:12:34,999 --> 00:12:37,000 DELPHINIUM IS ANOTHER COMMON GARDEN PLANT, 203 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:38,999 AND WE HAVE WILD SPECIES HERE IN THE DESERT, 204 00:12:38,999 --> 00:12:42,417 IS ANOTHER VERY TOXIC AND PROBABLY DEADLY PLANT. 205 00:12:42,417 --> 00:12:44,999 BUT THERE ARE NO KNOWN CASES OF HUMAN POISONING, 206 00:12:44,999 --> 00:12:47,417 AND THAT ILLUSTRATES ONE OF THE SAFETY FACTORS AS 207 00:12:47,417 --> 00:12:49,292 FAR AS HUMANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TOXIC 208 00:12:49,292 --> 00:12:51,542 PLANTS; MOST OF THEM TASTE SO BAD THAT YOU WOULD 209 00:12:51,542 --> 00:12:56,792 NEVER EAT ONE BECAUSE YOU WOULD SPIT IT OUT 210 00:12:56,792 --> 00:13:00,584 IMMEDIATELY. EVOLUTIONARILY AGAIN, THAT'S 211 00:13:00,584 --> 00:13:03,167 AN ADVANTAGE BECAUSE THERE'S NO POINT IN 212 00:13:03,167 --> 00:13:05,667 A TOXIN IN A PLANT THAT AN ANIMAL WOULD EAT AND 213 00:13:05,667 --> 00:13:08,626 THEN DIE TWO OR THREE DAYS LATER WITHOUT BEING ABLE 214 00:13:08,626 --> 00:13:11,584 TO, OR EVEN GET SICK TWO OR THREE DAYS LATER, 215 00:13:11,584 --> 00:13:13,417 AND NOT MAKE THE CONNECTION WITH THE PLANT. 216 00:13:13,417 --> 00:13:15,999 THE PLANT MUST GIVE THE ANIMAL THE MESSAGE, 217 00:13:15,999 --> 00:13:17,709 "THIS IS NOT GOOD TO EAT." 218 00:13:17,709 --> 00:13:20,334 SO FIRST IT TASTES BAD, AND IF THEY PERSIST, 219 00:13:20,334 --> 00:13:21,751 IT MAKES THEM SICK. 220 00:13:21,751 --> 00:13:25,918 AND THAT'S THE EVOLUTIONARY ADVANTAGE OF BEING TOXIC. 221 00:13:25,918 --> 00:13:28,876 THERE ARE ALSO A LARGE NUMBER OF PLANTS THAT ARE 222 00:13:28,876 --> 00:13:30,667 POISONOUS NOT JUST THROUGH INGESTION, 223 00:13:30,667 --> 00:13:32,250 BUT BY MERE SKIN CONTACT. 224 00:13:32,250 --> 00:13:35,417 THE FAMOUS ONE, OF COURSE, IS POISON IVY BECAUSE 225 00:13:35,417 --> 00:13:37,042 MANY, MANY PEOPLE ARE SENSITIVE TO IT, 226 00:13:37,042 --> 00:13:41,042 ALTHOUGH SOME SEEM TO BE IMMUNE OR AT LEAST RESISTANT TO IT. 227 00:13:41,042 --> 00:13:44,999 TWO COMMON LOCAL PLANTS THAT WILL CAUSE CONTACT 228 00:13:44,999 --> 00:13:50,083 RASHES IN SOME PEOPLE ARE RAGWEEDS AND FLEABANES. 229 00:13:50,083 --> 00:13:53,626 AND EVERYBODY OF COURSE KNOWS OLEANDERS, 230 00:13:53,626 --> 00:13:56,125 TOXIC TO BE EATEN, BUT IT ALSO CAN CAUSE A RASH WHEN 231 00:13:56,125 --> 00:13:59,542 YOU GET THE JUICE ON YOU, AS WHEN YOU'RE PRUNING THE PLANT. 232 00:13:59,542 --> 00:14:02,626 SO IT'S AN ALL-AROUND THING TO BE AVOIDED. 233 00:14:02,626 --> 00:14:07,584 THERE ARE SOME VERY INTERESTING PLANTS SUCH AS NETTLES 234 00:14:07,584 --> 00:14:11,959 AND MALA MUJERTHAT HAVE REALLY UNUSUAL DEFENSIVE MECHANISMS. 235 00:14:11,959 --> 00:14:14,999 BOTH OF THESE PLANTS HAVE VERY SHARP, POINTED, 236 00:14:14,999 --> 00:14:17,375 HOLLOW HAIRS THAT CONTAIN POISONS. 237 00:14:17,375 --> 00:14:20,250 IN THE CASE OFMALA MUJER, IT HAS TWO TOXINS. 238 00:14:20,250 --> 00:14:22,792 ONE OF THE TOXINS IS A HISTAMINE, 239 00:14:22,792 --> 00:14:24,250 WHICH CAUSES INFLAMMATION, IT'S WHAT YOU TAKE 240 00:14:24,250 --> 00:14:26,751 ANTIHISTAMINES FOR WHEN YOU GET HAY FEVER. 241 00:14:26,751 --> 00:14:28,999 AND THE OTHER TOXIN IS A NEUROTRANSMITTER, 242 00:14:28,999 --> 00:14:30,999 WHICH CAUSES INSTANT PAIN WHEN IT'S INJECTED INTO 243 00:14:30,999 --> 00:14:34,709 THE SKIN, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THE PLANT DOES ON CONTACT. 244 00:14:34,709 --> 00:14:36,999 THE HAIRS PENETRATE THE SKIN AND A TIP BREAKS OFF, 245 00:14:36,999 --> 00:14:39,999 AND THE PRESSURE PUSHING AGAINST THE LEAF ACTUALLY 246 00:14:39,999 --> 00:14:41,999 INJECTS JUST LIKE A HYPODERMIC NEEDLE, 247 00:14:41,999 --> 00:14:45,999 RIGHT INTO YOUR PAIN-SENSITIVE NERVES UNDER YOUR SKIN. 248 00:14:45,999 --> 00:14:51,918 IT'S A VERY EFFECTIVE MECHANISM FOR NOT GETTING EATEN. 249 00:14:51,918 --> 00:14:55,334 ANOTHER COMMON ANTI-HERBIVORE STRATEGY IS 250 00:14:55,334 --> 00:14:58,083 TO HAVE SPINES, SUCH AS CACTI AND AGAVES USUALLY HAVE. 251 00:14:58,083 --> 00:15:00,501 BUT THIS IS OFTEN A DEFENSE AGAINST THE LARGER 252 00:15:00,501 --> 00:15:03,334 ANIMALS AND THAT MEANS THAT JUST BECAUSE IT'S 253 00:15:03,334 --> 00:15:05,751 SPINY, DOESN'T MEAN IT MIGHT NOT ALSO BE TOXIC. 254 00:15:05,751 --> 00:15:10,000 MANY CACTI ARE TOXIC, AND MOST AGAVES ARE EXTREMELY TOXIC. 255 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,999 SO, EVEN IF YOU GET PAST THE SPINES AND WERE 256 00:15:13,999 --> 00:15:15,334 SOMEHOW TO INGEST RAW AGAVE FLESH, 257 00:15:15,334 --> 00:15:18,999 IT WOULD DESTROY YOUR INTESTINES, WHICH IS NOT GOOD. 258 00:15:18,999 --> 00:15:22,959 SO, MANY PLANTS HAVE MORE THAN ONE DEFENSE.MAYBE WE 259 00:15:22,959 --> 00:15:29,999 CAN RELATE TO THESE TOXINS BETTER IN AN AGE WHERE 260 00:15:29,999 --> 00:15:31,999 WE'RE GETTING MORE CONCERNED ABOUT FEELING DEFENSELESS. 261 00:15:31,999 --> 00:15:35,999 SOME WOMEN THESE DAYS CARRY TOXIC SPRAYS IN THEIR PURSES. 262 00:15:35,999 --> 00:15:37,959 WELL, OUT HERE BENEATH THE WIDE-OPEN SKY, 263 00:15:37,959 --> 00:15:39,999 WHERE THERE'S CONSIDERABLY MORE BARE DIRT BETWEEN 264 00:15:39,999 --> 00:15:42,417 EACH LIVING THING, THE SECRET TO LIVING LONG 265 00:15:42,417 --> 00:15:46,584 ENOUGH TO REPRODUCE MIGHT JUST BE TO PACK A WALLOP 266 00:15:46,584 --> 00:15:52,542 OR TO TASTE LOUSY.MANY OF THE ANIMALS THAT CARRY 267 00:15:52,542 --> 00:15:56,125 CHEMICAL WEAPONS ARE SMALL ENOUGH THAT THEY OFTEN GO 268 00:15:56,125 --> 00:15:59,375 UNNOTICED IF YOU'RE NOT ON THE LOOKOUT. 269 00:15:59,375 --> 00:16:02,501 AND THE SMALLEST OF ALL ARE THE ARTHROPODS. 270 00:16:02,501 --> 00:16:04,999 ARTHROPODS ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT SEVENTY-FIVE 271 00:16:04,999 --> 00:16:07,000 PERCENT OF THE WHOLE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 272 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,834 ALL OF THEM HAVE AN OUTER SHELL HOLDING EVERYTHING 273 00:16:09,834 --> 00:16:11,999 TOGETHER, INSTEAD OF BONES INSIDE. 274 00:16:11,999 --> 00:16:16,999 THE TERRESTRIAL ARTHROPODS WHO COME PACKING 275 00:16:16,999 --> 00:16:19,000 CHEMICALS FALL INTO TWO FURTHER GROUPS. 276 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:20,999 ONE OF THESE HAS A PAIR OF APPENDAGES CALLED 277 00:16:20,999 --> 00:16:23,250 CHELICERAE, NEAR THE HEAD. 278 00:16:23,250 --> 00:16:26,584 SPIDERS AND SCORPIONS AND TICKS ALL HAVE CHELICERAE. 279 00:16:26,584 --> 00:16:29,751 ANOTHER GROUP OF ARTHROPODS HAS MANDIBLES, 280 00:16:29,751 --> 00:16:31,250 LIKE JAWS FOR GRIPPING. 281 00:16:31,250 --> 00:16:33,999 ANDIN THIS CATEGORY ARE INSECTS AND THE 282 00:16:33,999 --> 00:16:36,834 MANY-LEGGED CREATURES LIKE CENTIPEDES.VENOMOUS 283 00:16:36,834 --> 00:16:41,999 INSECTS AND ARTHROPODS GENERALLY ARE 284 00:16:41,999 --> 00:16:46,999 OFFENSIVE IN USING THEIR VENOM. 285 00:16:46,999 --> 00:16:49,167 IT'S A WAY OF GAINING PREY ITEMS. 286 00:16:49,167 --> 00:16:56,999 THE USE OF IT AS A DEFENSE IS MORE A SECONDARY ADAPTATION. 287 00:16:56,999 --> 00:17:02,876 DIFFERENT STINGERS HAVE DIFFERENT EVOLUTION, 288 00:17:02,876 --> 00:17:04,751 OF COURSE, IN THE INSECTS. 289 00:17:04,751 --> 00:17:07,125 AND THE ONLY STINGING INSECTS THAT WE HAVE ARE 290 00:17:07,125 --> 00:17:08,999 WASPS AND BEES AND ANTS. 291 00:17:08,999 --> 00:17:12,167 THEY ARE ALL FEMALE THAT CAN STING. 292 00:17:12,167 --> 00:17:14,999 AND THE OVIPOSITOR, THE EGG LAYING DEVISE, 293 00:17:14,999 --> 00:17:18,667 HAS BEEN MODIFIED INTO THIS SINGER WITH AN 294 00:17:18,667 --> 00:17:24,792 ASSOCIATED VENOM GLAND.OTHER RELATIVES IN 295 00:17:24,792 --> 00:17:28,000 THE ARTHROPOD WORLD, SUCH AS SCORPIONS, 296 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:29,999 BOTH MALE AND FEMALE, CAN STING; 297 00:17:29,999 --> 00:17:32,709 THERE IS NO SEX DISCRIMINATION, 298 00:17:32,709 --> 00:17:33,999 I GUESS YOU COULD SAY. 299 00:17:33,999 --> 00:17:38,999 IN THE SPIDERS, BOTH MALE AND FEMALE HAVE VENOM. 300 00:17:38,999 --> 00:17:43,417 IT'S JUST THAT WITH MALES, SPIDERS ARE MOSTLY SMALLER 301 00:17:43,417 --> 00:17:47,751 AND PROBABLY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE MUCH OF AN 302 00:17:47,751 --> 00:17:50,999 INFLUENCE AS FAR AS THEIR VENOMS. 303 00:17:50,999 --> 00:17:55,918 WASPS AND ANTS ARE CERTAINLY USING THEIR 304 00:17:55,918 --> 00:18:00,999 STINGING DEVICE AS AN OFFENSIVE DEVICE, INSTEAD OF DEFENSE. 305 00:18:00,999 --> 00:18:05,459 WITH SCORPIONS, BOTH MALE AND FEMALE ARE OUT GETTING 306 00:18:05,459 --> 00:18:09,167 PREY ITEMS AND THEY WILL CAPTURE THE PREY AND THEN 307 00:18:09,167 --> 00:18:11,250 ENVENOMATE THEM TO PARALYZE THEM. 308 00:18:11,250 --> 00:18:18,834 THE CENTIPEDE IS PROBABLY OFF ON ITS OWN AS FAR AS 309 00:18:18,834 --> 00:18:20,999 EVOLVING A STINGING DEVICE. 310 00:18:20,999 --> 00:18:25,459 THEY DON'T HAVE MOUTHPARTS WITH VENOM, 311 00:18:25,459 --> 00:18:27,709 BUT THEY HAVE EVOLVED THIS FIRST PAIR OF VERY THICK, 312 00:18:27,709 --> 00:18:31,667 SHARP LEGS, ENVENOMATE THEM WITH THE VENOM AND 313 00:18:31,667 --> 00:18:34,959 THEN THEY CAN USE ALL THE REST OF THEIR MOUTHPARTS 314 00:18:34,959 --> 00:18:38,209 TO CHEW AND CONSUME THE PREY ITEM. 315 00:18:38,209 --> 00:18:44,501 ALL SPIDERS REALLY HAVE A VENOM; THE BLACK WIDOW, THE ARIZONA 316 00:18:44,501 --> 00:18:49,209 BROWN SPIDER, IS PROBABLY THE TWO MOST PROMINENT ONES. 317 00:18:49,209 --> 00:18:51,626 THEY HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VENOM. 318 00:18:51,626 --> 00:18:54,626 THE BLACK WIDOW HAS A NEUROTOXIN VENOM WHICH 319 00:18:54,626 --> 00:18:58,042 WILL AFFECT THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, OF COURSE. 320 00:18:58,042 --> 00:19:04,000 THE BROWN SPIDER, RELATIVE OF THE BROWN RECLUSE, 321 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:06,999 WHICH IS AN INTRODUCED SPIDER IN THE MIDWEST, 322 00:19:06,999 --> 00:19:10,083 HAS A VENOM THAT IS CALLED NECROTIC. 323 00:19:10,083 --> 00:19:13,167 IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S THE ENZYMES OF THE SPIDER THAT 324 00:19:13,167 --> 00:19:15,834 CAUSE OUR TISSUE TO ACTUALLY DECAY AND TO 325 00:19:15,834 --> 00:19:22,292 SLOUGH OFF, LEAVING AN OPEN WOUND.THE KISSING BUG 326 00:19:22,292 --> 00:19:25,584 NORMALLY IS ASSOCIATED WITH PACKRATS, LIVING 327 00:19:25,584 --> 00:19:30,250 WITHIN THE PACKRAT NEST, AND FEEDING ON JUVENILES. 328 00:19:30,250 --> 00:19:35,417 THE KISSING BUG CERTAINLY IS TAKING PROTEINS FROM 329 00:19:35,417 --> 00:19:38,999 ITS SYSTEM, FROM ITS SALIVARY GLANDS, 330 00:19:38,999 --> 00:19:46,000 AND INJECTING THEM INTO THE BODY OF THE VICTIM. 331 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:49,125 THIS VENOM IS ACTING ON THE BLOOD SYSTEM SO THAT 332 00:19:49,125 --> 00:19:52,626 NOW THE KISSING BUG CAN SUCK UP THE JUICES WITHOUT 333 00:19:52,626 --> 00:19:57,999 GETTING THEM STUCK IN ITS SODA STRAW DEVICE, IF YOU WILL. 334 00:19:57,999 --> 00:20:04,834 WASPS ARE OFFENSIVE INSECTS THAT ARE NEST 335 00:20:04,834 --> 00:20:07,999 BUILDERS, AND THEY HAVE TO SUPPLY FOOD TO THEIR 336 00:20:07,999 --> 00:20:12,334 YOUNG, SO THEY WILL GO OUT AND HUNT OTHER TYPES OF INSECTS. 337 00:20:12,334 --> 00:20:14,999 HONEYBEES, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAVE 338 00:20:14,999 --> 00:20:18,209 GONE TOTALLY AWAY FROM THE USE OF INSECTS AS 339 00:20:18,209 --> 00:20:21,999 FOOD. THEY'RE STRICTLY NECTAR AND POLLEN GATHERERS. 340 00:20:21,999 --> 00:20:25,876 THEY HAVE EVOLVED A STINGER THAT IS BARBED AND 341 00:20:25,876 --> 00:20:27,709 IS NOW STRICTLY A DEFENSIVE 342 00:20:27,709 --> 00:20:32,918 MECHANISM.TARANTULAS OVERWHELM THEIR PREY; 343 00:20:32,918 --> 00:20:34,999 THEY DON'T NEED A LOT OF VENOM. 344 00:20:34,999 --> 00:20:37,999 BUT THEY DON'T GO AFTER THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO 345 00:20:37,999 --> 00:20:39,959 BE TOO BIG FOR THEM, OR ELSE THEY'LL LOSE. 346 00:20:39,959 --> 00:20:43,417 THE SAME THING WITH ANY OF THESE CREATURES; 347 00:20:43,417 --> 00:20:46,918 THEY DON'T HAVE TO INJECT EVERY TIME THEY STING. 348 00:20:46,918 --> 00:20:49,999 SPIDERS, WHEN THEY BITE, DON'T ALWAYS ENVENOMATE, 349 00:20:49,999 --> 00:20:52,501 JUST LIKE RATTLESNAKES DON'T ALWAYS ENVENOMATE. 350 00:20:52,501 --> 00:20:55,709 SO, THEY'RE VERY CAUTIOUS, AND THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE 351 00:20:55,709 --> 00:21:00,375 THAT THEY SCORE A GOOD PIECE OF FOOD BEFORE THEY 352 00:21:00,375 --> 00:21:01,999 ARE GOING TO USE UP THIS PRECIOUS 353 00:21:01,999 --> 00:21:06,292 LIVE-GIVING THING THAT WE CALL VENOM. 354 00:21:06,292 --> 00:21:08,626 OUT OF ALL THE INSECTS THAT ARE OUT THERE IN THE 355 00:21:08,626 --> 00:21:11,999 WORLD, PROBABLY ONE PERCENT OR LESS HAVE THIS 356 00:21:11,999 --> 00:21:16,417 CAPABILITY.IF YOU WANT TO STAY HEALTHY, 357 00:21:16,417 --> 00:21:19,083 IT'S CERTAINLY GOOD TO KNOW WHERE THE DESERT'S 358 00:21:19,083 --> 00:21:21,999 POISONS AND TOXINS ARE LOCATED AND HOW 359 00:21:21,999 --> 00:21:24,501 TO BEHAVE WHEN YOU COME NEAR. 360 00:21:24,501 --> 00:21:27,042 BUT THAT'S THE PREVENTATIVE SIDE ONLY. 361 00:21:27,042 --> 00:21:29,000 AND MISTAKES ARE INEVITABLE. 362 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,999 IT'S HEALTHY TO ALSO KNOW A LITTLE FIRST AID FOR 363 00:21:31,999 --> 00:21:37,209 WHEN THE DESERT TAKES YOU BY SURPRISE.THE SYMPTOMS 364 00:21:37,209 --> 00:21:40,334 OF SOMETHING LIKE A BLACK WIDOW BITE WOULD BE 365 00:21:40,334 --> 00:21:42,459 INITIALLY A BURNING, STINGING-TYPE 366 00:21:42,459 --> 00:21:43,834 PAIN RIGHT AT THE SITE OF THE STING. 367 00:21:43,834 --> 00:21:46,918 AND THEN THAT'S FOLLOWED BY DEEP, MUSCLE ACHE OR CRAMPING. 368 00:21:46,918 --> 00:21:49,334 AND THAT CRAMPING CAN SPREAD THROUGH THE BODY TO 369 00:21:49,334 --> 00:21:51,959 INVOLVE AREAS LIKE THE SHOULDERS OR THE ABDOMINAL 370 00:21:51,959 --> 00:21:56,000 MUSCLES, FEELING A LOT LIKE A FLU OR FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS. 371 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,918 SYMPTOMS OF SOMETHING LIKE A SCORPION STING WOULD 372 00:21:58,918 --> 00:22:01,542 CAUSE A BURNING, STINGING-TYPE PAIN THAT'S 373 00:22:01,542 --> 00:22:03,999 FOLLOWED BY NUMBNESS AND TINGLING, 374 00:22:03,999 --> 00:22:06,167 USUALLY TRAVELING FROM THE SITE OF THE STING IN A 375 00:22:06,167 --> 00:22:07,334 DIRECTION TOWARD THE HEART. 376 00:22:07,334 --> 00:22:09,751 QUITE OFTEN AN ADULT PATIENT WILL HAVE NUMBNESS 377 00:22:09,751 --> 00:22:12,375 AND TINGLING GOING FROM THE SITE OF THE STING 378 00:22:12,375 --> 00:22:15,626 THROUGH AN ENTIRE LIMB. 379 00:22:15,626 --> 00:22:18,459 FOLLOWING A SNAKEBITE, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT A 380 00:22:18,459 --> 00:22:20,375 PATIENT MIGHT EXPERIENCE IS SWELLING. 381 00:22:20,375 --> 00:22:22,918 AND THIS CAN BEGIN AS EARLY AS FIFTEEN MINUTES 382 00:22:22,918 --> 00:22:24,334 AFTER THE BITE ITSELF. 383 00:22:24,334 --> 00:22:27,999 IF IT WAS LEFT UNTREATED, A SNAKE BITE WILL GO ON TO 384 00:22:27,999 --> 00:22:30,542 PROGRESS TO HAVE BLEEDING-TYPE DISORDERS 385 00:22:30,542 --> 00:22:33,542 INSIDE THE PATIENT, SEVERE TISSUE LOSS, 386 00:22:33,542 --> 00:22:36,709 TISSUE DEATH AT THE SITE, VERY EXTENSIVE SWELLING, 387 00:22:36,709 --> 00:22:40,417 QUITE OFTEN EVEN SOME DISFIGUREMENT OR LOSS OF 388 00:22:40,417 --> 00:22:43,959 FUNCTION IN THE LONG RUN. 389 00:22:43,959 --> 00:22:46,751 MOST HEALTHY ADULTS CAN MANAGE INSECT STINGS, 390 00:22:46,751 --> 00:22:48,999 EVEN BLACK WIDOW AND SCORPION STINGS, 391 00:22:48,999 --> 00:22:51,626 AT HOME WITH SOME BASIC FIRST AID: 392 00:22:51,626 --> 00:22:53,999 KEEPING THE SITE REAL CLEAN, COOL COMPRESSES, 393 00:22:53,999 --> 00:22:57,375 TRYING TO KEEP IT ELEVATED TO ABOUT HEART LEVEL, 394 00:22:57,375 --> 00:22:59,459 AN ASPIRIN OR TYLENOL IF THEY NORMALLY TAKE THOSE 395 00:22:59,459 --> 00:23:03,125 WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IN THIS KIND OF A SITUATION. 396 00:23:03,125 --> 00:23:06,999 A SNAKEBITE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ANYONE CAN MANAGE AT HOME. 397 00:23:06,999 --> 00:23:09,709 THE DEFINITIVE CARE FOR A SNAKEBITE OR GILA MONSTER 398 00:23:09,709 --> 00:23:12,999 BITE HAS TO BE GIVEN IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM, 399 00:23:12,999 --> 00:23:16,209 AND THOSE PATIENTS NEED TO GET INTO AN EMERGENCY 400 00:23:16,209 --> 00:23:20,667 ROOM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.THERE IS A LOT OF 401 00:23:20,667 --> 00:23:24,375 MISCONCEPTION ABOUT HOW DEADLY BITES AND STINGS ARE. 402 00:23:24,375 --> 00:23:27,918 IN NORTH AMERICA, DEATH IS EXTREMELY RARE FROM ANY 403 00:23:27,918 --> 00:23:28,999 TYPE OF BITE OR STING. 404 00:23:28,999 --> 00:23:30,751 IT IS MORE LIKELY TO BE THE RESULT OF AN 405 00:23:30,751 --> 00:23:33,292 ALLERGIC-TYPE REACTION THAN IT IS FROM A DIRECT 406 00:23:33,292 --> 00:23:34,959 EFFECT OF THE VENOM. 407 00:23:34,959 --> 00:23:37,334 IN FACT IN THE UNITED STATES WE EXPECT TWELVE TO 408 00:23:37,334 --> 00:23:39,999 FIFTEEN DEATHS FROM RATTLESNAKE BITES EACH YEAR. 409 00:23:39,999 --> 00:23:43,834 AND FROM SCORPION STINGS, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY DEATHS 410 00:23:43,834 --> 00:23:45,250 IN ABOUT THIRTY YEARS. 411 00:23:45,250 --> 00:23:47,417 BLACK WIDOW DEATHS, AGAIN, EXTREMELY RARE. 412 00:23:47,417 --> 00:23:49,209 BUT AN ALLERGIC-TYPE REACTION CAN BE A 413 00:23:49,209 --> 00:23:52,292 LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION, NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED EARLY, 414 00:23:52,292 --> 00:23:56,959 AND TREATED AS A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY. 415 00:23:56,959 --> 00:24:00,959 SNAKE VENOM DELIVERED BY THE SNAKE IS 416 00:24:00,959 --> 00:24:02,999 TO BE AVOIDED, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. 417 00:24:02,999 --> 00:24:05,834 BUT VENOMS ADMINISTERED BY YOUR DOCTOR AFTER THEY'VE 418 00:24:05,834 --> 00:24:07,459 BEEN BROKEN DOWN INTO THEIR COMPONENTS, 419 00:24:07,459 --> 00:24:10,375 OR FRACTIONS, THOSE CAN BE A BLESSING. 420 00:24:10,375 --> 00:24:13,375 THERE ARE PRESENTLY ABOUT FIFTY PRACTICAL USES FOR 421 00:24:13,375 --> 00:24:18,209 TOXINS AND VENOMS.YES, THERE ARE A GREAT MANY 422 00:24:18,209 --> 00:24:22,375 MEDICATIONS AND DRUGS THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED AT THE 423 00:24:22,375 --> 00:24:27,751 PRESENT TIME FOR USE IN HUMANS FOR VARIOUS DISEASE STATES. 424 00:24:27,751 --> 00:24:29,626 IT'S BEEN TRIED IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND 425 00:24:29,626 --> 00:24:32,501 MYASTHENIA GRAVIS, CERTAIN FRACTIONS AND SO FORTH, 426 00:24:32,501 --> 00:24:36,000 AS WELL AS POLIO BEFORE A VACCINE CAME OUT. 427 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:40,334 AND IT'S BEEN TRIED IN ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM 428 00:24:40,334 --> 00:24:41,999 WITH SOME SUCCESS, PARTICULARLY NOT SNAKE 429 00:24:41,999 --> 00:24:46,626 VENOMS, BUT BEE VENOMS.A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, 430 00:24:46,626 --> 00:24:49,999 IT IS USED IN A GREAT MANY DIAGNOSTIC TESTS: 431 00:24:49,999 --> 00:24:52,542 TUBERCULOSIS, SYPHILIS, CANCER, PREGNANCY, 432 00:24:52,542 --> 00:24:55,709 BLEEDING TIME, CLOTTING TIME, PROTHROMBINTIME, 433 00:24:55,709 --> 00:24:57,999 PLATELET DISEASES, THROMBOCYTOPENIA AND SO FORTH. 434 00:24:57,999 --> 00:25:04,584 PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT IS A COMPONENT 435 00:25:04,584 --> 00:25:06,999 OF A VENOM, OF A SNAKE VENOM, ACTUALLY, 436 00:25:06,999 --> 00:25:12,542 THAT DISSOLVES OR BREAKS DOWN BLOOD CLOTS IN THE BLOOD STREAM. 437 00:25:12,542 --> 00:25:16,167 AND I THINK PROBABLY AT THE PRESENT TIME THIS IS 438 00:25:16,167 --> 00:25:19,667 ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OR FRACTIONS OF 439 00:25:19,667 --> 00:25:25,999 VENOMS THAT VARIOUS INVESTIGATORS ARE WORKING ON. 440 00:25:25,999 --> 00:25:28,417 WELL, THERE'S A GREAT FUTURE BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY 441 00:25:28,417 --> 00:25:30,999 BEGINNING TO EXPLORE, TO TOUCH THESE. 442 00:25:30,999 --> 00:25:33,667 SAY YOU HAVE THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIVEVENOMOUS 443 00:25:33,667 --> 00:25:35,751 SNAKES AND EACH ONE HAS ONE HUNDRED DIFFERENT 444 00:25:35,751 --> 00:25:37,792 COMPONENTS, YOU'RE DEALING WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF 445 00:25:37,792 --> 00:25:42,375 POTENTIALLY USEFUL FRACTIONS TO STUDY. 446 00:25:42,375 --> 00:25:45,375 AND REALLY WE'RE, AS I SAY, 447 00:25:45,375 --> 00:25:47,751 WE'RE ONLY BEGINNING TO LOOK AT THESE, 448 00:25:47,751 --> 00:25:50,250 AND WE'RE ALREADY COMING UP WITH A GREAT MANY NEW 449 00:25:50,250 --> 00:25:55,834 DRUGS. UNFORTUNATELY, CHEMICAL HAZARDS IN THE 450 00:25:55,834 --> 00:25:59,709 DESERT AREN'T LABELED WITH A SKULL AND CROSSBONES. 451 00:25:59,709 --> 00:26:02,334 BUT FOR EONS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PASSING DOWN THE 452 00:26:02,334 --> 00:26:04,999 RESULTS OF THEIR FAILED EXPERIMENTS WITH POISONOUS 453 00:26:04,999 --> 00:26:07,999 THINGS, FOR SO LONG IN FACT THAT THE MERE IMAGE 454 00:26:07,999 --> 00:26:11,375 OF A SERPENT SETS OFF AN ALARM DEEP IN OUR 455 00:26:11,375 --> 00:26:14,709 SOULS.NO, YOU CAN'T KNOW EVERY TOXIN IN THE DESERT 456 00:26:14,709 --> 00:26:17,876 BUT IT WORKS JUST TO MOVE ALONG RESPECTFULLY. 457 00:26:17,876 --> 00:26:20,167 WATCH WHERE YOU GET A GRIP AND WHERE YOU STEP. 458 00:26:20,167 --> 00:26:25,959 AND OF COURSE, DO KNOW YOUR BERRIES BEFORE YOU MAKE A PIE. 459 00:26:25,959 --> 00:27:20,459 [MUSIC] 460 00:27:20,459 --> 00:27:25,999 FUNDING FOR THE DESERT SPEAKS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY ASARCO INC. 461 00:27:25,999 --> 00:27:28,999 AN INTEGRATED PRODUCER OF NON-FERROUS METALS AND 462 00:27:28,999 --> 00:27:31,000 OTHER INDUSTRIAL MINERALS AND PRODUCTS. 463 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:35,542 ASARCO INC. ADDING VALUE TO NATURE'S RESOURCES. 464 00:27:35,542 --> 00:27:37,667 AND HEADQUARTERED IN TUCSON, ARIZONA, 465 00:27:37,667 --> 00:27:40,042 INTERGROUP HEALTHCARE CORPORATION IS A MANAGED 466 00:27:40,042 --> 00:27:44,542 HEALTHCARE COMPANY SERVING MORE THAN A QUARTER MILLION MEMBERS. 467 00:27:44,542 --> 00:27:48,292 AND BY, THE ARIZONA GAME AND FISH HERITAGE FUND, 468 00:27:48,292 --> 00:27:53,876 ARIZONA'S LOTTERY DOLLARS WORKING FOR WILDLIFE.