Tetrodotoxin - Powerful paralytic found in puffer fish. This substance appeared on both the fantasy drama THE X-FILES/FOX//1993-2002 and the police drama COLUMBO/NBC/1972-77. On COLUMBO, LAPD homicide detective Lt. Columbo (Peter Falk) investigated the death of an Italian restaurant owner. He discovered a  man was murdered from wine tainted with Tetrodotoxin. It was injected through the cork of the wine bottle by a blackmailing colleague (Louis Jordan). On episode No. 38 "Fresh Bones" of THE X-FILES, FBI agent Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) learned that Tetrodotoxin was used by Haitian refugees to paralyze Army solders in voodoo rituals. Both episodes revealed that Tetrodotoxin was a derivative of the puffer fish. And although the fish was considered a delicacy in Japan, it must be meticulously prepared by specially trained and licensed chefs to prevent poisoning.

D

Back to Top

 

Home  |  Site Map  |  Search  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy  |  Archive