"...What are the oven mitts for?" "Ah, I wanted to make sure you didn't sneak a bite while I gave you the potion. How was it, by the way?" "Horrible, I don't think I'm ever going to get that taste out." "I added cinnamon!" "It didn't do anything!"
So...Ford had to learn how to cure zombification somehow, right? Orion happened to be the unlucky test subject.