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From: mcewan@uiucdcs.CS.UIUC.EDU
Newsgroups: net.rumor
Subject: Re: Killer Apples
Message-ID: <12400006@uiucdcs>
Date: Wed, 12-Feb-86 22:50:00 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.12400006
Posted: Wed Feb 12 22:50:00 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 14-Feb-86 07:41:36 EST
References: <3012@pesnta.UUCP>
Lines: 34
Nf-ID: #R:pesnta.UUCP:3012:uiucdcs:12400006:000:1685
Nf-From: uiucdcs.CS.UIUC.EDU!mcewan    Feb 12 21:50:00 1986


>In article <410@oracle.UUCP> aoki@oracle.UUCP (Don Aoki) writes:
>>Of the seeds listed above, almonds contain the greatest amount of
>>amygdalin, the most important cyanogenetic glycoside.  It is said that
>>it would take 50-70 of them to kill an adult; therefore the number
>>of apple seeds constituting a fatal dosage would be higher.  Probably
>>about a cupful.
>>
>If you mean 50-70 almonds, then I'm already dead several times over.
>I've been known to down 2-3 *pounds* of almonds over the course of
>a couple of hours when I used to visit my father in California -- he'd
>have the 10-pound bag of fresh [unroasted, unsalted, un-everything-but-tasty]
>almonds and I'd go nuts...er...crazy.
>
>*Sigh*.  Another rumor sadly disposed of.  When are we going to get the
>rumor that we all laugh at that turns out to be true two weeks later?
>I'm beginning to think you guys aren't too well placed in your respective
>corporations/schools -- get out there and dig up some *real* dirt!

This is true for *bitter* almonds, which are different from the almonds
you buy in the grocery store. It is also true about apple seeds and
several other seeds. I believe that there were cases of people dying
of cyanide poisoning from Laetril (made from apricot seeds). The concentration
is low enough that it is unlikely you will suffer from any ill effect
unless you eat at least a cup of seeds in one sitting (and cyanide does
not build up in the body).

I repeat, this is TRUE, it is not just a rumor. If you don't believe me,
look up "cyanide" in an encyclopedia.

			Scott McEwan
			{ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!mcewan

"What? That? It was just a filthy demon! It wasn't even from this dimension!"