(EDITOR’S NOTE: “Common Science” is a science
column written by Joe Jeffers, Ph.D. Jeffers received
the Ph.D. in molecular biology and biochemistry from
Purdue University. He teaches chemistry and biology
at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkan-
sas. “Common Science” is sponsored by The National
Science Foundation and appears periodically in The
Dallas Post.)
Any substance can be considered poisonous or toxic
if used in large enough amounts. Even water in large
quantities can cause the kidneys to malfunction and
~ lead to poisoning due to the inability of the body to
© remove toxic wastes. Usually when one thinks of
\ poisons, substances like strychnine or curare comes to
@ mind. Strychnine has been used in rat poisons and
"numerous murder mysteries, and curare is used by
South American Indians on the poison darts they shoot
at game animals.
Would you believe that poisons like these can also be
used for beneficial medical purposes? Curare, for
example, is a powerful muscle relaxant. If too much
curare is injected, death results because the chest
muscles are so relaxed that one dies from respiratory
failure. Smaller doses, however, can be used during
surgery to relax throat muscles during rather lengthy
examinations: of the throat.
There is a fine line between toxicology, the science
of poisons, and pharmacology, the science of useful
effects of drugs and chemicals on living systems. For
all of these chemicals there are four levels of effects -
effect, a helpful effect, a harmful effect, and a lethal
effect. It is a question of dose.
Poisons are rated on a scale of 6 (supertoxic, a taste
kills) to 1 (practically nontoxic, a quart might kill).
Digitoxin, often prescribed for certain heart ailments,
is a 6; amphetamines rate a 5 (extremely toxic); and
aspirin rates a 4 (very toxic). Yet all of these poisons
in proper dosage are taken every day by persons
seeking therapeutic relief.
Where did these poisons come from and why have
they developed? As a matter of survival many plants,
animals and microorganisms produce chemicals that
help them get food, defend against predators or
discourage competition. For example, snakes and
jellyfish inject poisons into their prey to kill them,
bees defend their hives against attackers by stinging,
microorganisms that might compete with them. The
alkaloids like curare and strychnine produced by
plants may have developed originally to ward off
insect predators. If so, at least some insects have
developed a tolerance for the alkaloids and receive no
ill effects from feeding on the plants.
Just to list the highly toxic substances produced by
living creatures would require the space of most of
this newspaper. A few examples will be given.
Probably the most deadly biotoxin of all is botulinus
toxin produced by a type of bacteria. It is a form of
food poisoning, commonly called botulism, that results
from canned foods that were not sterilized properly.
Ten millionths of a gram would be enough to kill a 150
pound man. Death results due to paralysis of the
respiratory muscles. The first symptoms, nausea and
vomiting, occur approximately six hours after inges-
tion. With early detection antitoxins can be given to
neutralize the poison.
Red tide is a name given to heavy blooms of one-
celled sea creatures called dinoflagellates. These
creatures are eaten by shellfish. Unfortunately, the
dinoflagellates produce a highly toxic poison (saxi-
toxin), which accumulates in the bodies of the
shellfish. When the red tides are present, shellfish
sales are banned. If man eats shellfish at this time, he
risks severe poisoning. A few years ago cases of red
tide poisoning were so severe that iron lungs were
needed to help persons breath since they had some-
what paralyzed chest muscles. ‘
Some mushrooms are also quite deadly. The death
cap mushroom, when eaten, leads to convulsions and a
fatality rate for ninety percent. Many Japanese enjoy
a specialty fish called the deadly death puffer. If it is
skillfully prepared, it makes a delicious meal. If,
however, it is not properly prepared, it contains a
toxin that leads to numbness of the entire body and
paralysis of the muscles. Death follows in sixty
percent of these cases.
The sea wasp, a jelly fish found off the coast of
northeastern Australia, inflicts a sting that can kill a
human adult in less than one minute. Death results
due to failure of the circulatory system. The black
mamba snake of southwest Africa is one of the world’s
most dangerous snakes. Its bite may lead to death as
a result of respiratory distress. A large black mamba
secretes enough venom to kill ten men.
Research scientists all over the world are studying
these biotoxins. With luck and a lot of hard work, we
may turn more of nature’s poisons into medicines that
benefit mankind.
Kiwanis donation
Services Committee.
KINGSTON TOWNSHIP
Icy road conditions caused a Luz-
erne man to lose control of his car
early Sunday morning in Kingston
Township.
Kevin P. Sendrick, 37 Linden
Street, Luzerne, said he was operat-
ing his 1979 Ford van in the south-
bound lane of Rt. 309 when the
vehicle slid off the road into an
embankment. After being helped by
passing motorists he continued on
when his car again skidded off the
road once again.
He was not injured.
DALLAS TOWNSHIP
No injuries were reported in a
two-car accident that took place last
Wednesday along Rt. 309 in Dallas
township.
Police reports said that Christine
M. Shorts, RD 1, Box KP 37,
Harvey’s Lake, attempted to pull
out of the parking lot of the Salva-
tion Army onto Main Rd. when she
struck a car driven by Joseph Gum-
bravich, RD 1, Dallas.
Neither person was injuried and
slight damage was sustained by
both cars.
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An Ashley woman skidded
through a red light in an intersec-
time she did notice the signal it was
too late to come to a complete stop
and skidded into a car driven by
James K. Aikens, RD 5, Box, 39
Elmcrest St. Dallas.
Aikens said he was attempting to
Irem Dance set
cross 309 from Center Hill Road and
had the green light. The impact
caused the Aikens to slam into a
third car driven by William H.
Milton, 9 Glendalough Road.
No one was hurt in the incident.
tion on Rt. 309 causing a three-car
bm tl A Past Potentate’s and Past President's Dinner Dance will
be held at Irem Temple's Country Club, Saturday evening,
March 8. The event is to honor Past Potentate Paul
Schramm and Past President of the Uniformed Units,
Edward G. Bath, Jr. Festivities will commence at 6 p.m.
with a Social Hour, followed by Dinner and Program at 7
p.m. and Dancing from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., music will be
provided by the ‘‘Hi-Lites.”’ Reservations may be made by
According to reports, Lynann E.
Cipriani, 19 St. Main St., Ashley,
was traveling north on Rt. 309 when
she failed to see a red light at an
intersection. Cipriani said by the
Learning projects Dallas Post/Charlot M. Denmon SUPPORT THOSE calling Irem Temple's Country Club, 675-1134 or from
Nursery School students in the Dallas High School Child Development class for juniors and THAT ADVERTISE members of the Uniformed Units. The deadline for reserva--
seniors learn how to do a new project from teachers of the day, Sheri Prokopchak and Lisa tions Is March 6. Members oi irom Temple, thelr ladies and
Williams. Around the table are Laura Yankowski, Rebecca Ann Hadzor, Jerry Appel, Jimmy IN their guest are invited. Above are members of the
committee. Fro, left, William H. Cordy, Co-chairmen, Robert
C. Hontz, General Chairman and Edward L. Herbert, Co-
Chairmen. Walter E. Schimmelbusch will be Toastmaster.
Appel, Scott Doughton. High school students Sheri Prokopchak and Lisa Williams are at the end THE DALLAS POST
of the table assisting the children.
« « People
7
(Continued from page 8)
BER JR., son of Jack M. and Mary
D. Kloeber of 244 Ferguson Ave.,
Shavertosn was involved in a
NATO-sponsored exercise by partic-
ipating in the Army’s return of
forces to Germany (REFORGER)
and the Air Force’s Crested Cap
exercises.
Kloeber is a plans and operations
officer with the 6th Field Artillery
at Fort Riley, Kans.
He is a 1977 graduate of Lehigh
University, Bethlehem, Pa.
AIRMAN JOSEPH W. CICERO
1V, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W.
Cicero III of 363 Harris Hill Road,
Shavertown, has been assigned to
Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas,
after completing Air Force basic
training at Lackland Air Force
Base, Texas.
The airman will now receive spe-
cialized instruction in the dental
field.
He is a 1984 graduate of Dallas
Senior High School.
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AIRMAN MATTHEW C. PERRY,
son of Kathleen A. Perry, 8 Oak
Drive, Dallas and Gerald L. Perry
of 8317 Adrian Court, Matthews,
N.C., has been assigned to Sheppard
Air Force Base, Texas after com-
pleting Air Force basic training at
Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
The airman will now receive spe-
cialized instruction in the wire
maintenance field.
His wife, Debbie, is the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Willard Lansberry,
RD 2, Dallas.
The airman is a 1985 graduate of
Lake-Lehman High School.
ARMY PRIVATE MARK L. GEB-
HARDT, son of Dorothy G. Geb-
hardt of RD 3, Wyoming, has com-
pleted basic training at Fort Dix,
N.J.
During the training, students
ceremonies, weapons, map reading,
tactics, military courtesy, military
justice, first aid, and Army history
and traditions. :
His wife, Sharon, is the daughter
of Thomas Parry of Edwardsville,
Pa.
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AIRMAN RONALD E. WATKINS,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald L.
Watkins of 123 N. Pioneer Ave.
Shavertown has been assigned to
Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas,
after completing Air Force basic
training at Lackland Air Force
Base, Texas.
The airman will now receive spe-
cialized instruction in the aircraft
maintenance field.
He received an associate degree
in 1983 from Luzerne County Com-
munity College.
¥ -0-
SUSAN EVANS AND MARIA T.
DROBNICKI, two College Miseri-
cordia seniors have been selected to
the 1985-86 “Who’s Who in American
Universities and Colleges.”
Students are chosen for their aca-
demic achievements, service to the
community, leadership in extracur-
ricular activities and potential for
continued success.
ost people add 1
Evans, a nursing major, is senior
class treasuer and a member of the
Honors program. A graduate of
Dallas High School, she is the
daughter of Arline Sutton of 6
Poplar St., Dallas, and the grand-
daughter of Lewis and Arline Wil-
liams of 43 Sutton Road, Shaver-
town.
Drobnicki is a medical technology
major who is currently doing her
practicum at Divine Providence
Hospital, Williamsport. She is a
member of the Biology Club and the
Pre-Professional Club. Drobnicki, a
graduate of Lake-Lehman High
School is the daughter of Michael
and Barbara Drobnicki of RD 1,
Harveys Lake and the granddaugh-
ter of Helen Hudanick of Swoyers-
ville.
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K. GARY KIRK, a senior at
Bloomsburg University has been
elected to Who's Who Among Stu-
dents in American Universities and
Colleges.
Gary is a 1982 graduate of Dallas
High School. In high school, Gary
was a member of the National
Honor Society and a member of the
varsity basketball and baseball
teams.
Gary will graduate from Blooms-
burg University in May with a
degree in Business Administration
with a major in Accounting. He is a
Dean’s List Student, a member of
Phi Beta Lambda, a national busi-
ness fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi,
national honor fraternity and is
president of the Fellowship of Chris-
tian Athletes. :
He is the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Kenneth Kirk, Dallas.
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THREE BACK MOUNTAIN RES-
IDENTS are among 436 students
named to the Dean’s List at Kutz-
town University for outstanding
achievement during the fall semes-
ter of the 1985-86 academic year.
The announcement of the Dean’s
List was made by Dr. Lawrence M.
Stratton, university president.
They are: Lynette A. Ritts, 94
Grandview Ave., Dallas; Laura A.
Adams, 223 Lakeside Dr., Harveys
Lake; and Maria Augustine, Wyo-
ming R.D. 3.
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MOLLY HUGHES, Huntsville
Road, Dallas; and KAREN REA-
BUCK, 40 Westminster Dr., Dallas,
have been named to the Dean’s List
at Bucknell University for outstand-
ing student scholarship during the
first semester of the 1985-86 aca-
demic year.
The average of a student’s grades
in all his or her courses each
semester must equal 3.5 or higher to
be named to the Dean’s List.
0:
SEVERAL BACK MOUNTAIN
RESIDENTS have been named to
the Wilkes-College Dean’s List by
Dean of Academic Affairs Dr.
Gerald D. Hartdagen. Dr. Hartda-
gen announced that 336 students
have achieved Dean’s List status for
the Fall semester, 1985-86.
Those area residents are:
David Garber, Shavertown; and
Gail Keen, Harveys Lake, who were
among 29 students who achieved a
perfect 4.0 semester average.
Also named to the Dean’s List at
Wilkes College are:
Donald Albert Benza, Shavertown,
accounting major; David Michael
Dombek, Dallas, engineering
major; Barbara Eyet, Dallas, busi-
ness administration major; Randa
Fahmy, Dallas, political science
major; David Andrew Garber,
Shavertown, a chemistry major;
Susan R. Haley, Shavertown, a
nursing major; John Francis Han-
dley, Dallas, a biology major.
Also, Michael Allen Havrilla,
Shavertown, undeclared major;
Tammi Ann Hons, Dallas, psychol-
ogy major; Gail Diane Keen, Har-
veys Lake, elementary education;
Joyce Callahan Krivenko, Dallas,
elementary education major;
Amber Anne Marszalek Laver,
Trucksville, psychology major;
Karen B. Natishan, Dallas, commu-
nications major.
Also, Martin Joseph Onzik,
Dallas, business administration
major; Thomas Lamar Peeler IV,
Trucksville, psychology major;
Mary Ann Rauschmayer, Harveys
Lake, mathematics major; Veron-
ica Repko, Dallas, computer science
major; Lisa Anne Sigman, Shaver-
town, mathematics major; and
Michael Yamrick, Shavertown, elec-
trical engineer major.
ARMY PVT. RICHARD C. SISCO,
grandson of Dorothy Sisco of 138
Cedar Ave., Shavertown and son of
Cathren Kennedy of 68 S. Haveland
Ave., Kingston, has arrived for duty
with the 77th Armor, Fort Carson,
Colo.
Sisco, an armor crew member,
was previously assigned at Fort
Knox, Ky.
He is a 1985 graduate of West Side
Tech, Pringle.
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AIRMAN 1ST CLASS JOSEPH
TOMASELLI, son of Fred and
Yolanda Tomaselli of 107 Hemlock
Drive, Dallas has been decorated
with the Air Force Achievement
Medal in Japan.
The Achievement Medal is
awarded to airmen for meritorious
service, acts of courage, or other
accomplishments.
Tomaselli is an aircraft arma-
ment specialist with the 18th Equip-
ment Maintenance Squadron.
He is a 1982 graduate of Lake-
Lehman High School, Lehman.
DAVID QUINN THOMAS, son of
Richard W. Thomas and Loretta
Quinn Thomas, Mesa, AZ, former
residents of Shavertown, received
his Ph.D. in Secondary Education
from Arizona State University,
Tempe, AZ.
He graduated from Dallas High
School in 1976, graduated from Penn
in Health and Physical Education.
He received a Master of Science
degree from Arizona State Univer-
sity in 1982.
He was employed as a graduate
teaching assistant and faculty asso-
ciate at A.S.U. while studying for
the Master of Science degree. In
1982, he began studying for a Doctor
of Philosophy degree in Secondary
Education at Arizona State Univer-
sity.
He was employed as a Research
Associate at A.S.U.’s Exercise and
Sport Research Institute for the
three years he was working on his
Ph.D.
He is the grandson of Mrs. Julia
Quinn and the late Thomas L. Quinn
of Wilkes-Barre and Richard W.
Thomas Sr. and the late Agnes
Brady Thomas of Wilkes-Barre.
Dr. Thomas is currently teaching
at the University of Massachusetts
Harbor campus, Boston, Mass.
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KIMBERLY A. GRITMAN, of RD 5,
Box 99, Dallas, and KIRSTEN M.
MARQUART, of 143 S. Pioneer
Ave., Trucksville, have both been
named to the Dean’s List at East
Stroudsburg University for the first
semester of the 1985-86 academic
year, according to Dr. James
Kemp, vice president for academic
affairs.
Students eligible for the Dean’s
List are those who have attained a
3.51 quality point average or better.
Ms. Gritman is a junior Psychol-
ogy major while Ms. Marquart, a
senior, is majoring in Environmen-
tal Studies.
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MRS. MARGERIETE BOGART,
88, of 42nd St., Idetown, recently
returned home from Apopka, Flor-
ida, where she was the guest of her
son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and
Mrs. F.E. Bogart.
While in Florida, she visited her
granddaughter, Bonnie Miller, and
spent Christmas with another
granddaughter, Jo-Ann Lyons and
her husband, Dennis. Mrs. Bogart,
however, was unable to see her
grandson, Greg, and his wife, of
Honolulu, Hawaii, but talked to
them by phone.
Before returning home, she vis-
ited with her daughter, Bev, and
son-in-law, John and their family, in
Schnecksville, Pa.
0- ;
MR. AND MRS. MICHAEL F.
TERESINSKI, of Pheasant Drive,
Larksville, are celebrating their
66th wedding anniversary today.
Congratulations are extended to
the Teresinskis from all of the Back
Mountain.
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WILLIAM B. EVANS, of RD 2,
Overbrook Road, Dallas; and
DIANE L. SOLINSKY, of RD 7,
Church Road, Trucksville, are
among area students who have been
named to the Dean’s List at Clarion
University of Pennsylvania for the
first semester of the 1985-86 aca-
demic year.
Dean’s List students must have
earned a 3.5 quality point average
or higher (on a 4.0 scale) during the
semester.
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JEREMY ROBERT DOKNOV-
ITCH of 153 E. Ridge St., Nanticoke,
was baptised at the Lehman United
Methodist Church, Lehman, on
Sunday, Jan. 26.
Jeremy was born in the Nesbitt
Memorial Hospital on Oct. 14, 1985.
His parents are Gale (Armstrong)
and Robert Doknovitch.
Sponsors were Ronald, the
father’s brother, and Carole Men-
geringhausen, the mother’s sister.
Offciating cleryperson was Rev.
Michael Shambora.
A reception was held afterward at
the home of Joan and Ronald Dok-
novitch, Jeremy’s grandparents,
who reside at 167 Alden Mountain
Road, Alden.