Deadly Pufferfish Poison | PHARMACIST REACTS to Apothecary Diaries Episode 15 

Pretty interesting stuff today, hopefully you learned something new. I know I did. Maomao’s origin story is getting more and more spicy! Maury, is Lakan the father???

I think a trader familiar with it will probably treat it beforehand with the limewater but a region that doesn't usually sell it is going to sell it without being treated. The cook probably assumed the poison was already leached out.

As someone who works in interpreting/translating for Japanese-English, there are two translations in the subtitles that I find problematic for this episode that completely alter the context of the conversation. 1) Maomao hearing about Lakan and saying “no point dwelling on this” What she actually says is more along the lines of “nothing good will come of remembering that/him” 2) Lakan’s ‘confession’ of wanting to “force” the courtesan. He’s a weirdo looking for a reaction here, but the phrase he uses is “oshi-taosu”. It means to hold down/push down, especially with sexual connotations, but it’s more a dirty talk way of saying he wanted to bed her as opposed to sexually assaulting her like the subtitles implied.

MaoMao’s face going full Junji Ito absolutely killed me 😂

My impression on Lakan and the courtesan is that he "devalued" her as a courtesan presumably by getting her pregnant. In a society that values women for their looks and ability to create heirs, a woman who's already had kids would be second-grade. Which also follows the Maomao/Lakan speculation you're onto.

Importing a poisonous ingredient from a region that doesn’t regularly eat it, and thus doesn’t know how to make it safe to eat, while possibly assuming it is when it likely isn’t is what Maomao was getting at in terms of the danger. It pays to pre-research. Also for the show I suspect they might make it Maomao who Lakan is creepily interested in so Jinshi can feel righteously protective of her, however it could be Maomao’s mom and that would be why Maomao has a connection with that cortisan house. What I wonder is if the latter is the case does Lakan know Maomao might be his kid and if he doesn’t will he try to go after Maomao the same way he went after her mom (use underhanded tricks) since she’s so similar to her mother? Lakan gives me bad vibes and I worry for Maomao’s interpersonal safety.

I love the relationship between Mao Mao and Jinshi. Jinshi just knows when she is going to do something crazy and Mao Mao is considering him like a kid in a nymph’s body.

Both Lakan *AND* Jinshi are masochists when it comes to both of them *LOVING* being on the receiving end of their love interest's death glare~!! 😂

the CGI horse will now haunt your night mares for years to come

The cast continues to grow and grow. Maomao's horror face was amazing.

Just a heads up "how to lower price of courtesan" is a bit of a trap, for watcher and Jinshi alike. Lakan really like mindgames.

17:41 The technicalities & scientific reasons may have only been realistically discovered recently, but a lot of folk people pass on knowledge on which flora and fauna can be eaten, how they should be prepared, and how to store them. Safely eating raw seafood went through the same trial and error in ancient times; which parts can be safely eaten or how to make eels un-poisoned. It's not farfetched for Asian countries that have winter seasons to rely on pickling fruits, vegetables and even seaweed by using acids like vinegar (Gaushun said the dead official ate the seaweed prepared in vinegar) or lime+water... then discover that it becomes poisonous when combined.

The author might have gotten the idea from a certain food eaten in southern part of Japan. It’s made from seaweed called ogonori after it’s processed with calcium carbonate.

Did you know that the lethality of pufferfish is largely dependent on diet? Properly farmed, there is essentially no poison in the fish. And the connoisseurs no longer want it. XD

You're probably the only reaction channel that predict most things correctly. Gotta prepare that "you're correct sir" everytime

To avoid seaweed poisoning, it is most important to avoid consuming seafood from areas that demonstrate a high risk of domoic acid toxicity. Integrity agencies that evaluate and regulate food safety often monitor domoic acid concentrations in the environment and seafood to ensure consumer safety - from AI 🤣. Back then there was no food safety management agency and I also often hear that people in the area will still sell things they don't use because it fetches a high price

Considering the large quantity and number of species of seaweeds humans consume, and that seaweed consumption is an ancient practice, it is surprising how few cases there have been of seaweeds causing harmful effects to humans. In total, there have been only 14 deaths and 73 illnesses attributed to the consumption of seaweeds. Furthermore, in most of the reports of deaths caused by seaweed consumption, the source of the toxin is questionable and may not have been the seaweed but epiphytic cyanobacteria contaminants. In addition, all of the reports of seaweeds causing serious illness and death involve just a small number of seaweeds, in particular Gracilaria, Acanthophora, and Caulerpa. There are no reports of poisonings caused by the most widely consumed and commercially valuable seaweeds such as Porphyra (nori), Laminaria (kombu), and Undaria (wakame). The goal of this chapter is to review what is known about the harmful effects of seaweeds and seaweed products on humans, as well as any harmful effects seaweeds can have on their own ecosystems. Studies are included of both constitutive compounds being the causative agent, as well as studies of toxic elements and organic compounds that are taken up and concentrated by seaweeds, such as arsenic and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Professional personal chefs keep a log so that the make sure they don't accidentally prepare the same dish too often, without request.

Pufferfish preparation is something you get certified for, and only certified chefs are allowed to prepare and serve the fish.

if you react this way on Jinshi in this episode - i have no clue how you will react on a frog...

"Did he... 😮 nooo waaaay.... did he beat her?!" That reaction was so cute 😂

Lakan may seem like a bad guy, but you'll actually love him once he reveals his true self

Some hints: As you noticed, the courtesan Rakan mentioned looks awfully similar to an older version of Maomao, while Rakan seems to have the same eye color as Maomao... also, what do you think makes a high-ranking courtesan so valuable? As he said, she never sold herself - her value as a courtesan, someone who is supposed to spend the night with their customers, came from the scarcity of her actually providing that service (I think that is actually mentioned in a previous episode - the top three courtesans of the verdigris rarely take customers to bed). And what does a courtesan have to fear most in her line of work, like a work-related risk? what would prevent her from continuing her service, at least temporarily? It could be an abusive customer, STDs or... pregnancy

Lakan and Jinshi shared similar taste in women 😂

16:06 I think Maomao is implying that something that is not poison can become poison if treated incorrectly.

It could be that they only know of the seaweed poison through trial and error. Since it could be that certain time the algae is not on the seaweed so it is fine. But if they are continuing eating it on to the algae season people start dying. When they just happen to find limewater by accident prevented the poison. This could be through some people preferring it over storing in salt. And only later learn what specifically is poisonous.

The Brother baught the Seaweed from a Handler who didnt either know, or did'nt care how it needs to be prepared.

They may not have known the main chemical cause of seaweed poisoning back then, but simple observational skills can change a regions cuisine. They mention its in the southern region where they dont eat it, southern China is also warmer, which means more algae blooms. if this toxin accumulates in wildlife or people had died from eating it in that region, it may have just become common practice of not eating it at all in the area. Whereas in the north it could have colder waters, with less blooms and less risk of eating it. For example my family is from China. Where my family is from, certain fruits and raw vegetables were not popular to eat even though they were grown there. Pickled vegetables were only of certain kinds. Once they moved here they continued not not eat those fruits and vegetables, and would warn me about them of how one could get very sick and die. Seeing me eat a salad for the first time had my grandparents completely frantic. Nowadays we know, because of Ecoli and Salmonella. But in my grandparents day they just knew "Do not eat summer raw greens without cooking" and "pickle cool weather crops".

Always love these reactions. Things are getting interesting now

Maomao is someone who'd genuinely enjoy Yor's cooking cos whatever she makes is practically poisonous

as this show feels like ancient china sherlock holmes with poison, that Lakan guy is giving me Moriaty vibes.

S P O I L E R W A R N I N G Yes, Lakan is Mamao's dad, he got the courtesan he was talking about, pregnant. He did love her, but never went back for her (I forgot why). Jinshi actually asks Maomao how one would lower the value of a courtesan and she explains. The more Jinshi hears, the less he likes Lakan.

Domon acid was present in the seaweed and needed to be pre-treated with limewater to detoxify it before consumption. The brother knowing this told the merchant to buy untreated seaweed because it came from a region that does not eat it hence would not know the detoxification process.

The question is how are the victims connected (salt poisoning, tobacco poisoning, seaweed, …) merchants and bureaucrats are victims maybe consorts and royal children.

I love this anime, I also really enjoy watching you react to it! I've read the manga, and dayuuum what's yet to come!

The reference to pufferfish poison reminded me of an episode of Bondi Vet, where a dog had bitten a pufferfish on the beach. Normally, it would take 30 minutes or less to show symptoms and need a ventilator, but this dog didn't show any symptoms at all until almost 8 hours later. She survived and never needed a ventilator. Maybe Mao Mao is like the dog--one of those individuals who somehow has an absurdly high natural tolerance for pufferfish poison.

Thanks for your commentes about poison.

I love how they are keeping Lakans condition a secret.

It’s hard to figure out Maomao’s true feelings, especially when she deliberately cuts off Jinshi when he’s talking, signaling a desire to keep a certain distance. It’s as if she’s attempting to avoid getting too close, perhaps out of a fear of involuntarily falling for him. I don’t know, she’s interesting but very strange, as as if something within her is tightly compressed. As for Lakan, he doesn’t come across as a good guy; rather, he exudes a creepy vibe. If he is indeed Maomao’s father, it could explain her eccentric attitude, though she doesn’t bear any physical resemblance to him. He’s unattractive, and I can’t shake the feeling that he might have done something underhanded to diminish the value of Maomao’s mom. I’m also curious whether Maomao is aware of her biological parents. When Jinshi mentions the peculiar guy, it appears to make Maomao contemplate, but she quickly shuts down the thought. Perhaps she’s avoiding painful truths about her past, displaying a tendency to steer clear of emotional entanglements to sidestep potential pain. Maomao seems like the type who won’t shed tears until she finally reaches a breaking point; suppressing feelings for too long can lead to an eventual emotional snap.

I think you were spot on with the medical side this week. The show obviously can't give away the science so they have to stop short of identifying the poison beyond Mao Mao saying "this stuff is dangerous". But combining the described symptoms and the fact that more experienced regions that produce this food learned to soak the seaweed in limewater Ca(OH)2 to neutralize its toxicity most definitely confirms the poison to be acidic in nature.

It seems as if lakan is the kind of guys to do questionable things but is smart enough to get away with it.

I really like the scene with the story about the three brothers. Puppet theater whose narrator is Lacan. Moreover, the only figure he controls is himself.

I've read the light novels. I won't tell you about the guy, but yes, it was the sea weed (that sea weed dusent bloom in that region and is out of season the brother bought it from a region that it was in season but was also in bloom the people in that region did not eat sea weed because it's always been poisonous in that area) he new his brother liked puffer fish and how it's poisoned so he brought the poison sea weed everyone wood think it was the fish that everyone new was poison and not the sea weed that while not comon people new it was not poisonous

rain = sad story 😶‍🌫

Basen was introduced in the first cour. I have forgotten which episode, but he was featured as Jinshi's sparring partner (sword). (Spoiler below) . . . . . . . . . . . . Spoiler: Basen is related to Gaoshun.

0:02 ah little rule town so many memories

"He might know her dad?" Pfft

So why is Gaoshun doing investigations, hhmm does this imply special high status role with Jinshi regarding some special imperial conspiracies.

The courtesan had green hair and was aloof and brilliant.

she got the bee lady killed and now the younger brother,whos next?

I can't say much of anything because it would be a serious spoiler, but I would urge Zach to watch it all the way through. In "Apothecary Diaries," this series of episodes remains highly regarded. 9:15 I remember commenting on one of Zach's other reaction videos, but I think this is a parody of the manga work of famous horror manga artist Kazuo Umezu. If you do an image search using the keyword "Kazuo Umezu Face," you can probably recognize the original face. The shape of the eyes and mouth are very similar. 16:19　Ogonori (I could not find the English translation) No name was given, probably this seaweed is called "Ogonori" in Japan, which is red in color. * Ogonori itself is usually sold in Japan, and perhaps they took this into consideration because mentioning the name could cause reputational damage. Ogonori on the market is properly processed to remove harmful ingredients, but there have been incidents in Japan where people have eaten unprocessed Ogonori from the sea without knowing it, resulting in food poisoning and death. When the enzyme in Ogonori reacts with the lipid component of fish in the body, it produces a substance called Prostaglandin E2, which causes poisoning. * I am not an expert on the subject, so I am not sure if it is related to domoic acid, but the discoverer of domoic acid is Japanese, so there may be a connection. In the anime, the fish was eaten with fugu meat, which is believed to have caused food poisoning. In fact, it is said that the symptoms occur more strongly in women than in men, but unfortunately, in this case, even the man fell into a coma. Incidentally, Ogonori turns green like in the anime in the process of losing its enzyme activity by being dipped in lime water. It is believed that the original author modeled his story on this incident.

And the only thing I remember from my high school chemistry lessons is that alkali and acid neutralize each other. I don't remember whether lime or salt is an alkali, but I suspect that something from these two neutralizes this poisonous acid. It might have been known in the south, but not in the north, which is why the incident happened.

I'm glad i am not the only one thinking Lockon Stratos

When I was watching your video I realized that lakan has maomao eye and that woman had maomao hair..... Does that mean 😮 or maybe not but look in to it can you plese i want to be in your videos

Seems to me that you missed some stuff while you were talking but it's my understanding that reactors notice more things when you edit so...

i have a small theory n it's not great: back in the day getting a girl preg or taking their v card is a way to 'devalue' a girl. bec back then, young girls who haven't been deflowerd and those that can make heirs are regarded as being very high value. ofc hurting someone n brusing someone would also do the same, so there is a chance it was that. but what made me sick is that he hinted to wanting to assalt the girl. so it's definitely possible. the womens hair does match maomaos, n moamoa had a weird reaction to when the description of the guy was being brought up, I'm not sure if she knows who he is. thinking this guy is possibly her dad is scary.

Is there a hidden connection with all these investigations over the previous episodes?

Is that bug fungus drug a real thing

The annoying freak has arrived. As for the rest, you will have to watch the next episode. LOL

According to ancient folk lore, a dude traveled the wilderness, and apparently he could tell the effect of the plants. He died of food poisoning for eating something called the "intestine cutting herb" supposedly. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shennong Supposedly there was a book that documented the plants en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shennong_Bencaojing

About La Kan, Spoilers

Wait why you know MaoMao is his daughter ??? You got spoiled or something 😓

An astounding lack of booba in this episode