Acquired Poison Immunity: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|'''Buttercup:''' And to think...all this time [[Poisoned Chalice Switcheroo|it was your cup that was poisoned]].~~<br />~~

{{quote|'''Buttercup:''' And to think...all this time [[Poisoned Chalice Switcheroo|it was your cup that was poisoned]].

'''The Man in Black:''' [[Take a Third Option|They were both poisoned.]] [[Crazy Prepared|I spent the last few years]] building up an immunity to iocane powder. |''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]''}}

{{quote|He gathered all the springs to birth

{{quote|''He gathered all the springs to birth

From the many-venomed earth:

''From the many-venomed earth:

First a little, thence to more,

''First a little, thence to more,

He sampled all her killing store.|A. E. Housman}}

''He sampled all her killing store.|A. E. Housman}}

In short, this trope references the development of immunity to a particular drug or poison [[Charles Atlas Superpower|by taking small doses for a long time.]]

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In some cases, the poison builds up and actually turns the poison-proof character into a [[Poisonous Person]].

This can be [[Truth in Television]], or not, depending on the poison in question. For some poisons, the body produces antibodies to clear them from the system; so, with repeated exposure to small amounts, you can build up a level of circulating antibody that grants immunity to a typical dose. However, there are plenty of other poisons that ''don't'' get cleared from the system and simply build up in your tissues until ~~you~~ reach a lethal ~~dose~~.

This can be [[Truth in Television]], or not, depending on the poison in question. For some poisons, the body produces antibodies to clear them from the system; so, with repeated exposure to small amounts, you can build up a level of circulating antibody that grants immunity to a typical dose. However, there are plenty of other poisons that ''don't'' get cleared from the system and simply build up in your tissues until they reach a lethal level.

This trope is officially named Mithridatism, after a king who made use of the effect. It backfired when he was defeated and [[Driven to Suicide|tried to commit suicide]]; his immunity to poison [[Gone Horribly Right|worked so well]] that he ended up needing to [[I Cannot Self-Terminate|hire a mercenary]] to [[Impaled with Extreme Prejudice|run him through.]]

This trope is officially named '''[[wikipedia:Mithridatism|Mithridatism]]''', after Mithridates VI of Pontus, an ancient king who made use of the effect. It backfired when he was defeated and [[Driven to Suicide|tried to commit suicide]]; his immunity to poison [[Gone Horribly Right|worked so well]] that he ended up needing to [[I Cannot Self-Terminate|hire a mercenary]] to [[Impaled with Extreme Prejudice|run him through.]]

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== Anime & Manga ==

* Killua from ''[[Hunter X Hunter]]'' is immune to virtually all forms of poison due to his family's [[Training From Hell]], and is seen happily downing five cans of laxative-laced juice before the Hunter Exam starts.