Markets and the State

[JollyRoger]

It died in 1913. We have yet to find the body.

Yeah, this country has really taken several steps back since 1913.

 

[MagisterCultuum]

Only a total moron would not immediately start with humans trials ? Are you frakking serious ?
Despite cute examples like chocolate and specialized poison resistances in some species all mammals on earth are actually quite similar, and we have long figured out what species are more similar to humans than others. If kills a rat it will most likely kill a human, if it gives a rhesus monkey cancer it will most likely give a human cancer.
Total morons who insist on animal testing first. Jesus Christ !

Actually, a high enough dose of Theobromine (the toxic substance in chocolate) is lethal to humans. We can tolerate a far amount because we metabolize it faster than many, but not all, mammals do. Rats actually tolerate it better than we do. Human resistance to theobromine is about halfway between that of mice and rats, much higher than that of cats and dogs. Chocolate is actually more dangerous to cats than to dogs, but since cats cannot taste sweetness they rarely try it.

 

[Samson]

Will you be saying the same thing when you get diagnosed with cancer and they put you on the dreaded Waiting List?

There is no waiting list for cancer. If you are diagnosed with it you are likely to start treatment immediately. Waiting lists tend to be a problem with things that can be put off, and sometimes are for significantly longer than they should be.

Of course not. It's not the scientists who work for the FDA, but the bureaucrats who run the FDA, who are the total morons. They're the ones who mandate animal testing before moving on to human trials.

This is generally a good thing, there have been too many tragic stories about insufficent testing (see thalidomide).

Excuse me, but this regulation has DESTROYED MY LIFE and very nearly ENDED it. What's so "good" about that?

While I do have a lot of sympathy for you, I have had my own touch of insomnia (about 100 time less that you by the sounds of it) I really think you venom is misplaced. If you think barbiturates are the only way to deal with it you should be talking to a doctor (find a new one if yours will not help you). Unregulated access to barbiturates is not going to happen, and probably without medical suppervision (however hands off) would not be good for you.

Then you need to STFU. Seriously.

If you're curious, though, Seconal is the trade name of secobarbital, which is a member of the barbiturate class of drugs. Barbiturates have the same effect on the brain's GABA-a receptors as alcohol does, but whereas alcohol will irritate your stomach, strip the delicate linings from the villi in your small intestine (thereby causing malnutrition), screw around with your body's glucose-glycogen conversion, and generally cause all sorts of havoc before being metabolized into acetaldehyde, which is THIRTY TIMES AS TOXIC as the alcohol itself and the primary cause of liver cirrhosis and hangovers, barbiturates won't do any of those things. Barbiturates are, in effect, the real-world equivalent of the "synthehol" found in the later Star Treks.

I am well aware of the effects of barbiturates, and they are not some dream health "synthehol", and are exactly the type of drugs I was talking about. They have significant potential for abuse, considerable addictive possibilities and possible health risks. If your argument for economic deregulation is unrestricted access to barbiturates you are going to lose, however much you feel you are right.

Yeah. Alcohol is so much better

That is a difficult question, but if you are too allow unrestricted access to all drugs that are less damaging than alcohol you are not going to be left with many restricted.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

cats cannot taste sweetness

No wonder they are so arrogant. Pure bitterness!

 

[Ayatollah So]

This is generally a good thing, there have been too many tragic stories about insufficent testing (see thalidomide).

If we stack the bodies, though:

• People killed/maimed because of insufficient testing
• People killed/maimed by disease because drugs were delayed to market

Which pile is bigger?

I honestly have no idea. Research? Facts? Anyone?