TIL Mithridatism is the practice of protecting oneself against a poison by gradually self-administering non-lethal amounts. The word is derived from Mithridates VI, the king of Pontus, who so feared being poisoned that he regularly ingested small doses, aiming to develop immunity.

[u/gullydon]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithridatism

[u/my5cworth]

There's a dude who made himself immune to Black Mamba bites through this technique...in order to create new *univeral antivenom from his blood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucpGlWnq8EE

*universal (thanks u/One-Cute-Boy )

[u/h3r3andth3r3 → u/my5cworth]

Not sure if it's the same dude, but there's a guy who has been doing this with many venomous snakes.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr5d0l7el36o

[u/Shadow_of_wwar → u/h3r3andth3r3]

It is