Comments on: Only Sometimes It Isn’t http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2007/03/07/only-sometimes-it-isnt/ Summum nec metuas diem, nec optes - Marcus Valerius Martialis Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:27:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: syn http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2007/03/07/only-sometimes-it-isnt/comment-page-1/#comment-56155 syn Thu, 08 Mar 2007 11:51:13 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2007/03/07/only-sometimes-it-isnt/#comment-56155 "As soon as man began considering himself the source of the highest meaning in the world and the measure of everything, the world began to lose its human dimension, and man began to lose control of it" Vaclav Havel “As soon as man began considering himself the source of the highest meaning in the world and the measure of everything, the world began to lose its human dimension, and man began to lose control of it” Vaclav Havel

]]> By: Joanie http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2007/03/07/only-sometimes-it-isnt/comment-page-1/#comment-56149 Joanie Thu, 08 Mar 2007 04:54:44 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2007/03/07/only-sometimes-it-isnt/#comment-56149 For more interesting medical misunderstandings, read "The Ghost Map" by Steven Johnson. It's about the cholera epidemic in the 1800's in London. The 'miasmists' were quite certain that cholera and other diseases were caused by a 'miasma' or airborne phenomenon. So they proceeded to legislate removal of the cess pools (which were stinky, so therefore must have caused disease) and dump all waste into the Thames. Which, of course, people drank from. As the water-borne diseases ravaged the population, the scientists and politicians were proudly legislating exactly the worst remedy. A fascinating subject, in retrospect. But what a terrible time to be caught up in the epidemic. Joanie For more interesting medical misunderstandings, read “The Ghost Map” by Steven Johnson. It’s about the cholera epidemic in the 1800′s in London. The ‘miasmists’ were quite certain that cholera and other diseases were caused by a ‘miasma’ or airborne phenomenon. So they proceeded to legislate removal of the cess pools (which were stinky, so therefore must have caused disease) and dump all waste into the Thames. Which, of course, people drank from. As the water-borne diseases ravaged the population, the scientists and politicians were proudly legislating exactly the worst remedy.

A fascinating subject, in retrospect. But what a terrible time to be caught up in the epidemic.

Joanie

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