Okay, it's not a mineral, but it's kind of none of them. Its actually a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. (I'm really limiting myself with these categories aren't I?) Botulinum toxin, commonly called Botox, is one of the deadliest know substances on the planet. It is so toxic that just 1kg of the stuff is enough to kill the entire human population. Besides the mind-bogglingly common practice of injecting it straight into the face, humans can come into contact with botulinum toxin in the everyday life. It often lurks in improperly canned food and even that fancy garlic-infused olive oil you have sitting on the counter. Ingestion, inhalation and wound infection of botulinum toxin will cause the condition known as Botulism. Symptoms include all of the usuals such as nausea, dizziness and vomiting but, as a neurotoxin, it also has a profound impact on the brain. Paralysis will begin from the top down, beginning with droopy eyelids, some attractive drooling and trouble swallowing. It will then move down the body rendering its victim unable to breathe when it reaches the chest. At this point, you will die unless put on a ventilator, whereupon the paralysis will continue its march towards the legs. The death rate has come down from 60% to around 10% in the past decades in developed world, but even if you survive, the after effects of dizziness, fatigue and weakness are likely to be there for the rest of your life Fun Fact: Despite all of our advances in medical science, the most effective way of diagnosing botulism is still distinctly medieval. Blood from the patient is taken and injected into a mouse. If the mouse dies of botulism, then you have your answer. This method is still used because it is much faster than lab-testing blood and stool samples int he lab.
