Girl Who Kills Self on Gearshift
gaym...@imap1.asu.edu
How old is the story about the girl whose boyfriend gives her Spanish
Fly, then when he goes into the restaurant to order take-out she kills
herself on the gear shift? I remember hearing that story when I was
fourteen (thirteen years ago), and when I scoffed about it to my father
he said HE had heard it when he was my age (i.e., around 1960). How far
back does this story go?
Thanks,
Cheryl "No Spanish Fly for me, thanks" Adam
Barbara Mikkelson
gaym...@imap1.asu.edu wrote:
> How old is the story about the girl whose boyfriend gives her Spanish
> Fly, then when he goes into the restaurant to order take-out she kills
> herself on the gear shift?
According to snopes' web page on this legend, this tale dates back at
least to the early 1950s. Try:
http://www.best.com/~snopes/sex/aphrodis/gearshif.htm
Barbara "manual transmission" Mikkelson
--
Barbara Mikkelson | I see no overwhelming common sense here.
bha...@fas.harvard.edu | - Len Berlind
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
View a random urban legend --> http://www.best.com/~snopes/randomul.cgi
DaveHatunen
In article <52nsjc$k...@nntp1.best.com>,
Barbara Mikkelson <bha...@fas.harvard.edu> wrote:
>gaym...@imap1.asu.edu wrote:
>
>> How old is the story about the girl whose boyfriend gives her Spanish
>> Fly, then when he goes into the restaurant to order take-out she kills
>> herself on the gear shift?
>
>According to snopes' web page on this legend, this tale dates back at
>least to the early 1950s. Try:
>
>http://www.best.com/~snopes/sex/aphrodis/gearshif.htm
Having first heard it myself around 1950, I can attest to that. The
story seemed to fade in the 1950s, when automatic transmissions and
steering column-mounted manual shift levers became almost universal.
It should be noted that early floor-mounted transmission levers were a
bit different than today's four-on-the-floor. Car seats were normally
bench seats, and were fairly high, so that one sat as in a chair,
rather that with one's feet way forward. And the levers were longer,
with a consequent longer throw. Such a lever in the first or third gear
position (three-speed "H") was positioned so that the knob was almost
on the seat, making it rather convenient for such activities. I'm not
sure how a woman would even attempt such a feat in today's cars.
--
********** DAVE HATUNEN (hat...@netcom.com) **********
* Daly City California *
* Between San Francisco and South San Francisco *
*******************************************************
Matt Beckwith
>>gaym...@imap1.asu.edu wrote:
>>> How old is the story about the girl whose boyfriend gives her Spanish
>>> Fly, then when he goes into the restaurant to order take-out she kills
>>> herself on the gear shift?
Anybody know what Spanish Fly is, by the way?
Chris Borg
Matt Beckwith (beck...@pop.southeast.net) wrote:
: >>gaym...@imap1.asu.edu wrote:
12 years ago when I was in the 12th grade. A classmate was in a car crash
and the gear shift ended up in his chest. they started to pull him out b4
they saw it.
: >>> How old is the story about the girl whose boyfriend gives her Spanish
Nick Spalding
of aphrodisiacs.
Cantharides (Spanish fly) and yohimbine are also considered
aphrodisiacs. The former, by irritating the genitourinary tract and
concomitantly dilating the associated blood vessels, does produce a
certain stimulation of the genitals, and yohimbine stimulates the
spine nerve centers that control erection. Nevertheless, claims for
their aphrodisiac effects are not substantiated.
--
Nick Spalding
B. Ridge
On Wed, 2 Oct 1996, Matt Beckwith wrote:
> Anybody know what Spanish Fly is, by the way?
Better yet, where can I get some?
Brian "It's on the back shelf, next to the snuff films" Ridge
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brian Ridge~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Therefore, inasmuch as it's good for you to lack but bad for you
to be filled, whoever is full tends to be lacking. One who lacks is not
filled in the same way that another who lacks is filled; but whoever is
full receives his just desserts. Therefore, it's fitting to lack while
it's possible to fill yourselves, and to be filled while it's possible to
lack. So that you may be able to fill yourselves the more. Therefore,
become full of the spirit but lacking in reason."
Jesus: The Apocryphon of James, 3:15-18
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Charles Wm. Dimmick
Matt Beckwith wrote:
>
> >>gaym...@imap1.asu.edu wrote:
>
> >>> How old is the story about the girl whose boyfriend gives her Spanish
> >>> Fly, then when he goes into the restaurant to order take-out she kills
> >>> herself on the gear shift?
>
Yes
DaveHatunen
Donald DiPaula
In article <Pine.A32.3.95.961003...@homer18.u.washington.edu>,
B. Ridge <bri...@u.washington.edu> wrote:
!On Wed, 2 Oct 1996, Matt Beckwith wrote:
!
!> Anybody know what Spanish Fly is, by the way?
!
! Better yet, where can I get some?
i don't think you'd want any. if i recall correctly, spanish fly is actually
an irritant, of either the urinary tract (?) or the vas deferens (?). any
veterinarians out there who can enlighten us?
Donald "ask me about an Australian Kiss" DiPaula
--
By US Code Title 47, Sec.227(a)(2)(B), a computer/modem/printer meet the
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send any unsolicited advertisement to such equipment, punishable by action to
recover actual monetary loss, or $500, whichever is greater, for each violation.
Richard Brandt
dip...@access5.digex.net (Donald DiPaula) wrote:
>i don't think you'd want any. if i recall correctly, spanish fly is actually
>an irritant, of either the urinary tract (?) or the vas deferens (?). any
>veterinarians out there who can enlighten us?
Well, as they said in ObGyn class, "There's a vas deferens
between the glands and the glans"
Richard "so better get that straightened out" Brandt
--
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"Torture! Torture! It pleases me!"
Criswell, in Ed Wood's ORGY OF THE DEAD (1966)
Robert Degerberg
> >gaym...@imap1.asu.edu wrote:
> >
> >> How old is the story about the girl whose boyfriend gives her Spanish
> >> Fly, then when he goes into the restaurant to order take-out she kills
> >> herself on the gear shift?
> >
> >least to the early 1950s. Try:
> >
> >http://www.best.com/~snopes/sex/aphrodis/gearshif.htm
>
> Having first heard it myself around 1950, I can attest to that. The
> story seemed to fade in the 1950s, when automatic transmissions and
> steering column-mounted manual shift levers became almost universal.
>
> It should be noted that early floor-mounted transmission levers were a
> bit different than today's four-on-the-floor. Car seats were normally
> bench seats, and were fairly high, so that one sat as in a chair,
> rather that with one's feet way forward. And the levers were longer,
> with a consequent longer throw. Such a lever in the first or third gear
> position (three-speed "H") was positioned so that the knob was almost
> on the seat, making it rather convenient for such activities. I'm not
> sure how a woman would even attempt such a feat in today's cars.
>
>
> ********** DAVE HATUNEN (hat...@netcom.com) **********
> * Daly City California *
> * Between San Francisco and South San Francisco *
> *******************************************************
I heard the story when I was in school in the thirties. Spanish Fly is
supposed to be ground up beetles parts called Cantharides, I believe and
it was used as an ingredient in a well known hair preparation. I have
heard the story on and off since then for I believe Cantharides is a
poison.The car mentioned was a stick shift car since there were no
automatic shifts.
Uncle Bob
Vandy Terre
On 3 Oct 1996 17:36:24 -0400, dip...@access5.digex.net (Donald
DiPaula) wrote:
>In article <Pine.A32.3.95.961003...@homer18.u.washington.edu>,
>B. Ridge <bri...@u.washington.edu> wrote:
>!On Wed, 2 Oct 1996, Matt Beckwith wrote:
>!> Anybody know what Spanish Fly is, by the way?
>! Better yet, where can I get some?
>i don't think you'd want any. if i recall correctly, spanish fly is actually
>an irritant, of either the urinary tract (?) or the vas deferens (?). any
>veterinarians out there who can enlighten us?
I am not a veterinarian. I am a farmer. Spanish Fly is a vaginal
irritant once used to encourage cows to allow the bull to mount and
breed them. I do not know if it is still in use in the USA. My
college livestock professor recommended against using Spanish Fly
because it encourages breeding when the cow is not necessarily in the
correct stage of heat for conception, plus it encouraged infection
problems.
According to my college professors at least in the USA in the mid
1970's, it was a controlled substance limited to use on bovines (beef
cows/ dairy cows in USA parlance) only.
BTW, the UL about the girl and the gear shift/ door knob/ broom
handle/ underarm deodorant package/ pick your choice of any roughly
phallic shaped object has been floating around as a bad joke, at
least, since at least the 1960's when it figured mainly as locker room
talk.
posted/ emailed
Any significantly advanced scam va...@avana.net
is indistinguishable
from religion. Georgia, USA
nobody@nowhere
There is something from mexico called Cholin, it seems to do all that spanish
fly claims to do....one problem to get it in mexico you need a ranch
certificate...
-Matty
Phil Clarke
>>>> How old is the story about the girl whose boyfriend gives her Spanish
>>>> Fly, then when he goes into the restaurant to order take-out she kills
>>>> herself on the gear shift?
>
>Anybody know what Spanish Fly is, by the way?
>
Spanish fly is supposed to be an aphrodesiac, but that in itself is an
urban legend.
Phil
http://www.webcom.com/dogglebe
R.W.L.
Gregor Ronald wrote:
>
> beck...@pop.southeast.net (Matt Beckwith) wrote:
>
> >>>gaym...@imap1.asu.edu wrote:
>
> >>>> How old is the story about the girl whose boyfriend gives her Spanish
> >>>> Fly, then when he goes into the restaurant to order take-out she kills
> >>>> herself on the gear shift?
>
> >Anybody know what Spanish Fly is, by the way?
>
Cantharides....Reputed to Stimulate the genital area, causing person to desire coitus.
It actually acts as a powerful irritant that cn cause inflammation to the lining of
bladder and urethra; can result in permanent tissue damage and even death.
(Sorry...right out of my Pyschology textbook)
RWL
Gregor Ronald
beck...@pop.southeast.net (Matt Beckwith) wrote:
>>>gaym...@imap1.asu.edu wrote:
>>>> How old is the story about the girl whose boyfriend gives her Spanish
>>>> Fly, then when he goes into the restaurant to order take-out she kills
>>>> herself on the gear shift?
>Anybody know what Spanish Fly is, by the way?
I gather it's also called cantharides, and it is made from some sort
of insect. It's supposedly a severe genital/urethral irritant.
Sound like fun...???
==============================
Gregor Ronald
Christchurch, New Zealand
Michael Schwartz
>
>DaveHatunen wrote:
>>
>> In article <52nsjc$k...@nntp1.best.com>,
>> Barbara Mikkelson <bha...@fas.harvard.edu> wrote:
>> >gaym...@imap1.asu.edu wrote:
>> >
>> >> How old is the story about the girl whose boyfriend gives her
Spanish
>> >> Fly, then when he goes into the restaurant to order take-out she
kills
>> >> herself on the gear shift?
>> >
>> >According to snopes' web page on this legend, this tale dates back
at
>> >least to the early 1950s.
In the book, Everything You wanted to know about sex* *but we're
afraid to ask, under the chapter on aphrodisiacs, the author describes
that scene as the ideal fantasy for any man (excpet she doesn't die,
she just gets off on the gear shift.)
He also describes a more likely scenario that the girl has a seizure in
the restaurant, goes into a coma and has about aa 50/50 survival rate.
Spanish Fly is an aphrodisiac, but unfortunately the dose that works is
almost the dose that kills. In a 750 pound steer who won't stud, you
might risk it. In a 110 pound human....best not to try it.
I understand it works by inflaming the urinary tract. Sounds like fun!
-Michael-
Glen Quarnstrom
schv...@ix.netcom.com(Michael Schwartz ) wrote:
>Spanish Fly is an aphrodisiac, but unfortunately the dose that works is
>almost the dose that kills. In a 750 pound steer who won't stud, you
>might risk it. In a 110 pound human....best not to try it.
This stuff will turn a steer into a stud? Wow, that's some powerful
substance!
Michael R. MacAskill
> >!On Wed, 2 Oct 1996, Matt Beckwith wrote:
>
> >!> Anybody know what Spanish Fly is, by the way?
As I recall, it is made from the ground up bodies of the beetle
Cantharides (not my italics).
Mike
\\ Michael R. MacAskill \\ \\
\\ Department of Medicine \\ Ph: +64 3 3640 640 \\
\\ Christchurch Hospital \\ ext 88138 or 88206 \\
\\ Private Bag 4710 \\ Fax: +64 3 3640 935 \\
\\ CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND \\ \\
Terry Smith
> From: beck...@pop.southeast.net (Matt Beckwith)
> Date: Wed, 02 Oct 1996 01:31:38 GMT
> Anybody know what Spanish Fly is, by the way?
Yes, lots of people. Some of them write about it in books.
Terry "Worried that he'd mispell Cantharides" Smith.
Alastair Mayer
Michael R. MacAskill wrote:
> > >!On Wed, 2 Oct 1996, Matt Beckwith wrote:
> > >!> Anybody know what Spanish Fly is, by the way?
>
> As I recall, it is made from the ground up bodies of the beetle
> Cantharides (not my italics).
>
> Mike
Yep. I have an old "chemistry" book (the title reads more like
"Chymiftry" - about 200 years old) that describes how to make the
stuff, starting by grinding up the beetles with mortar and pestle.
Unpleasant stuff, really.
-- Al "still trying to find the bit about lead into gold" Mayer
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Alastair Mayer The above is not intended to represent
mailto:a...@bix.com the opinion of US West, CTG, BIX, etc...
NansBrats
Cantharidin, or "Spanish Fly", can be a deadly poison. There was a case in
England, in 1954, where a male office worker gave two female co-workers
each a piece of candy known as "coconut ice", which he had laced with
one or two grains of the drug (a massive dose). Both women died, one of
whom
had been the object of the man's desire.
Source: Crimes and Punishment, Vol. 14, from The Symphonette Press,
BPC Publishing Limited, 1974
Lee Rudolph
robc...@worldnet.att.net (Robert Crowe) writes:
>One or two grains = a massive dose? A grain is 1/7000 of a pound, 2/875 of
>an ounce, or approx. 8/125 of a gram. Seems like an incredibly powerful
>toxin. What is the LD50%? Additional cites please.
Hell, I can't do arithmetic. But here's some more "popular crime"
material on the case, with more figures--work it out if you care.
The misuse of drugs as alleged aphrodisiacs has frequently been
the subject of criminal proceedings, where the defendant usually
admits that he had no prior knowledge of the fatally toxic effect
of the substance administered. Perhaps the most famous
`aphrodisiac' of folk lore is `Spanish Fly' made from the dried
beetle _Cantharis_ (Lytta) _vesicatoria_, which is widely found
in areas of southern Europe. The active ingredient of the
prepared insect is cantharidin, and the powdered product contains
around 0.6 percent of the substance. Sometimes a tincture of
cantharidin is made, and the fatal dose is usually reckoned at
1.5 to 3 grams of the powder, or about 200 millilitres of the
tincture.
...
One of the most sensational cases involving cantharidin came to
London's Old Bailey in 1954, when a wholesale chemist's manager
named Arthur Kendrick Ford was tried on charges of manslaughter
involving two of the girls who worked for him, 27-year-old Betty
Grant and June Malins, a 17-year-old beauty queen.
Ford, 44 years old and apparently happily married, had conceived
a desire for both Miss Grant and Miss Malins, and remembered the
rumours he had heard about the alleged aphrodisiac effects of
`Spanish Fly' in the army. One day he discovered that the
technical term for Spanish fly was cantharidin, and that supplies
were available at his place of work. He asked the firm's senior
chemist, Mr Richard Lushington, if he could obtain some
cantharidin because, said Ford, one of his neighbors was breeding
rabbits and he felt that cantharidin might play `a useful part in
the mating process'.
Mr Lushington told him that the drug was a `number one poison'
and, if administered to a human being in anything in excess of
half a milligram, could be fatal. Nevertheless he gave Ford--a
man of previously unimpeachable character--a small quantity of
the drug. Ford, who was a friendly and popular man, went out on
26 April 1954, and bought a bag of pink and white coconut ice
candy. Back in the office, he admitted, he pushed quantities of
the cantharidin into the candy with a pair of scissors, and gave
a piece to Miss Grant, and a piece of Miss Malins, and ate a
piece himself.
Within an hour all three were sick, and were taken to University
College Hospital nearby. The next day the two girls died but
Ford, though violently ill, survived. University College is a
major hospital with a highly trained staff of toxicologists; the
post-mortem on the two girls quickly revealed the presence of
cantharidin in their bodies--their internal organs had been
`literally burned away by the drug' according to evidence.
(from _Cause of Dath_ by Frank Smyth,
Van Nostrand Rhinehold, 1980,
ISBN 0-442-20041-2)
He was sentenced to 5 years in prison. If he's still alive, he's 86.
Lee Rudolph