Dr. Metablog is the nom de blague of Vivian de St. Vrain, the pen name of a resident of the mountain west who writes about language, books, politics, or whatever else comes to mind. Under the name Otto Onions (Oh NIGH uns), Vivian de St. Vrain is the author of “The Big Book of False Etymologies” (Oxford, 1978) and, writing as Amber Feldhammer, is editor of the classic anthology of confessional poetry, “My Underwear” (Virago, 1997).
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Reason A. Because slugs are hideous and disgusting.
Reason B: Because slugs eat rat droppings which can carry a lungworm parasite — a nematode called Angiostrongylus cantonensis — which causes fatal brain swelling. According to the NYTimes, a 27-year-old Australian man "has been hospitalized for more than a month after eating the slugs on a dare."
“We hope this will help to remind others to avoid eating raw slugs," said a spokesman.
That’s pretty funny. I don’t recommend eating any animal without cooking it first. Slugs were a pretty common meal additive in Liberia. It always grossed me out to be squished into the back of a taxi next to someone holding a clear plastic bag full of slugs for dinner. I’m pretty sure they put them in stews.
Slugs pictured are Limacus flavus.
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