Misconceptions That Kill #8: Drinking From a Cactus

I ran across this misconception last week and it fits in great with my Misconceptions That Kill series, so I've now added it as the 8th in an ongoing series of misconceptions that kill.  The misconception states that if you find yourself in a desert in desperate need of water, find a cactus, cut it open (hopefully you have a knife), and drink the water contained within.  Saved to live another day, right?  Nope.

A cactus won't save your life.

Turns out that a cactus doesn't contain drinkable water.  Inside a cactus is a liquid pulp containing toxic alkaloids.  Although the alkaloids may not directly kill you, they can cause you to get extremely sick and induce vomiting which only dehydrates your body further.  Thus in your attempt to quench your thirst, you've actually removed more water from your body and death is likely to come sooner.  

Moral of this story?  Don't get lost in a desert.