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Post by Rabbit on Sept 20, 2011 14:45:34 GMT -5
Anything that you need to figure out but don't want to risk the government/local police force/board of therapists kicking down your door when you search for it? Well, we're here to help!
Here's a ridiculously specific question from this year's NaNo to show you what I mean:
1. If you were to inject embalming fluid - not the slang version but actual funeral director embalming fluid - through a hypodermic needle, how much would be considered 'safe' (i.e. would not stop your heart), or is this not possible due to the level and type of chemicals it contains? Explain.
Extra Points: Explain the possible side-effects (not including death) of illegally injected embalming fluid.
2. Using what you learned in question one, would it be smarter to allow for side-effects caused by the slow build-up of fluid and chemicals in the system or alter the script to produce a diluted solution, eliminating all but the most manageable side-effects for the sake of keeping the story moving?
(Sorry about the test paper look - school on the brain.)
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Post by Siana Blackwood on Sept 20, 2011 23:40:16 GMT -5
Wikipedia says 'embalming fluid' is actually a combination of different fluids and processes ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embalming_chemicals). It all seems to be kind of deadly, though, so I think aside from death the main side affect would probably be immediate cardiac arrest. However, an embalmer would have access to a whole range of poisons like arsenic, methanol, formaldehyde... Hey, formaldehyde causes cancer. Also, methanol would cause alcohol poisoning - liver damage etc. Better yet - low level exposure to arsenic can cause birth defects and permanent alterations to DNA. It also causes cancer. High levels of arsenic cause organ failure and cell death followed by haemorrhage and death.
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Post by wolfyone on Oct 15, 2011 10:10:00 GMT -5
You see, now only another writer (or an actual criminal) would understand the need to research this kind of stuff. And yes your post shows me I'm not alone in wondering if there will be a knock on the door asking "And why exactly were you looking for this information?"
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