# Ah, methanethiol ... now, that takes me back.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-methanethiol-now-that-takes-me-back/265944>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [September 24, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-methanethiol-now-that-takes-me-back/265944 "2004-09-24T21:29:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jimbobboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/22d042/32.png) [@jimbobboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbobboy)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-methanethiol-now-that-takes-me-back/265944/1 "2004-09-24T21:29:06Z")

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Perhaps this should be part of the thread initiated by today’s column, viz.:  
[**Is there more flatulence in a vegetarian diet?**](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040924.html)

But this is way off-topic, so what the hey.

As I recall, the mercaptan methanethiol and its many close relatives are major constituents of  
[skunk spray.](http://www.msb.unm.edu/mammals/PDF/Wood2002.pdf)

And I also recall an incredibly funny (and purportedly true) story by Ken Kesey in which this knowledge kept him from being brained by a resident in the mental hospital at which he was working.

I did a quick Google search, and came up dry. Anyone else remember the same anecdote?