Science a GoGo's Home Page Forums General Discussion General Science Discussion Forum Maggot mysteries

"SCIENCE CAN FIND inspiration in the strangest of places. Take maggots. Most of us don't like maggots. We think these larval stages of insects are dirty and smelly, and the way they wriggle is creepy. But the lowly maggot is providing scientists and physicians with a valuable ally in the battle for knowledge and against disease."

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-cobb7may07,0,6794238.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions

And here I thought maggot therapy would be a psychiatrist for little bugs! Shows you what I know.

There are some that eat maggots.

http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Content?oid=22880&category=22578

If you Google "maggot eaters" you will get some sites that refer to the French as maggot eaters in part because soem of the Frence now post signs saying "no Americans" at restaurants. I say, let them eat maggots.
jjw

I can see using maggots as therapy for medical purposes, but I draw the line at willingly consuming them as rotten food. I'm sorry, but that has a "Yuck Factor" that's way too high for me. I'll take my cheese plain, thanks.

Ooh la la! La Francophobie!

And in London, those pubs that have signs -

No dogs,
No Irish.

How d'you think we feel...?

On the contrary, there are times when you could be glad that the maggots are eating you -

"In contrast to a surgeon, maggots are small and can be highly precise in debriding only necrotic tissue over 1 or 2 days. Maggots derive nutrients through a process known as “extracorporeal digestion.” They secrete a broad spectrum of proteolytic enzymes that liquefy necrotic tissue. This process allows maggots to absorb dead tissue in a semi-liquid form over the course of several days. In an optimum wound environment, maggots increase in length several times within a period of 3 days leading to the efficient removal of necrotic tissue when they are removed. Maggots used in maggot therapy do not damage healthy tissue. They precisely operate at the junction between healthy and necrotic tissue."

Wikipedis - Maggot therapy