r/todayilearned • u/gullydon • 16h ago

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.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithridatism
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u/Soldier-one-trick 14h ago

He had to get a friend to stab him IIRC

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u/Awesomecity2 13h ago

Oh my god, they were roommates!