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TIL Henrik Ibsen’s last words were “Quite the contrary” (Tvertimod) in response to his nurse’s assuring a visitor he was doing better.

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wL8vJ TIL Karl P. Schmidt, a herpetologist, was bitten by a snake while he was examining it. Schmidt did not seek medical attention and went on to document the effects of venom in his journal. He was pronounced dead 24 hours later. His kidneys, lungs, brain, heart and eyes had bled excessively.
l6MA TIL Andrew Jackson was challenged to a duel by Charles Dickinson who was considered an expert shot. Jackson allowed him to fire first hoping his aim to be spoiled by his quickness. The bullet did miss just shy of Jackson’s heart. Dickinson had to stand there waiting for Jackson to kill him.
R4Ra TIL when the current King of Thailand was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the hospital room in which he was born was declared Thai territory for the duration of the birth so that he could be born on Thai soil
XEBvj TIL as part of the Imperial Examination in Ming and Qing dynasty China, candidates would bring stationery, food, water, bedding and a chamber pot to be isolated with in a tiny room for 3 days and 2 nights to write essays. If any died, the bodies were simply wrapped in a mat and tossed over the wall.
P1Nrn TIL: For centuries in the Middle Ages, armies would have a carroccio, a four wheeled wagon carrying city signs, relics, and a large cross into battle. It would be protected by the bravest warriors and be used to celebrate Mass before battle. It's use diminished as mercenaries become commonplace.