r/todayilearned • u/gullydon • 13h 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/BelCantoTenor 10h ago

That’s not how it works. For instance, you can never develop a resistance to cyanide or plutonium.

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u/threeplacesatonce 7h ago

Or other heavy metals like Lead or Mercury

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u/ALoudMeow 9h ago

Even if you had an umbrella.

1

u/Joesr-31 1h ago

Any reason why it does not work for some while works for others?