Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen’s disease, is a chronic, infectious disease that
mainly affects the skin, mucous membranes, and nerves. A rod shaped bacillus
named Mycobacterium leprea, causes the virus. Mycobacterium leprea is very
similar to the bacillus that causes tuberculosis. The reason Leprosy is also
known as Hansen’s disease, is because it was first identified in 1874 by a
Norwegian physician named Gerhard Henrik Armeur Hansen.
Leprosy appears in both the Old and New Testaments. In the bible Leprosy
was not the disease that is recognized now, but as various physical conditions
that were nothing like the disease. A punishment from God was what these
conditions were considered to be. The victim was said to be in a state of
defilement. This Hebrew term was translated as lepros, which the word leprosy
came from.
The disease’s probable origin was the Indus Valley that is located in
India. Leprosy spread from there to the Mediterranean region and North Africa,
then all of Europe was affected. This disease is much less common now, as the
world case count has dropped below 1 million. During 1995 about 530 000 new
cases of leprosy were discovered. It is obvious that third world countries have
way more cases as India, Indonesia, and Myanmar account for almost 70% of the
cases reported in the world. 5500 know cases of Leprosy still exist in the US,
and about 200 cases a reported annually.
Tests to produce leprosy in experimental animals, have not been
successful as of yet. Though the organism can be grown in Armadillos, several
laboratories have been reported cultivating leprosy in the test tube.
Loss of sensation in a patch of skin is often the first symptom that
Leprosy displays. In the lepromatous form, large area’s of the skin may become
infiltrated. The mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, and throat may be invaded
by large numbers of the organism. Because of damage to the nerves, muscles may
become paralyzed. The loss of sensation that accompanies the destruction of
nerves may result in unnoticed injuries. These may result in secondary
infections, the replacement of healthy tissue with scar tissue, and the
destruction of bone. The classic disfigurements of Leprosy, such as loss of
extremities from bone damage or the so-called leoline facies, a lionlike
appearance with thick nodulous skin, are signs of advanced disease, now
"In less than four years the disease carved a path of death through Asia, Italy, France, North Africa, Spain and Normandy, made its way over the Alps into Switzerland, and continued eastward into Hungary" (Microsoft Bookshelf, page 1). After a brief respite, the plague resumed, crossing the channel into England, Scotland, and Ireland, and eventually made its way into the northern countries of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and even as far north as Greenland. In other words, the plague touched almost the entire known world.
In the 1300’s, England was struck with a plague called the Bubonic Plague, better known as the “Black Death.” Historians believe this disease arrived by ship at a seaport in modern day Ukraine (Byrne 1). Fleas living on the back of rats were the main cause of spreading. Because of the poor living conditions, rats were very common in towns, making it simple for fleas to bite the human, giving them the disease. Symptoms were easily spotted; the victim would have lumps on his or her groin and armpits, which would then turn to black spots on the arms and thighs (Trueman 1). Most who suffered form this epidemic did not live past three days (Trueman 1). Because the vermin spread this disease so rapidly, it would eventually affect most of Europe. The source of the Black Death was unknown at the time; therefore physicians could not stop the spread or treat the infected (Byrne 1). Many people thought that it was God’s punishment, so to appease Him, they publicly whipped themselves (Byrne 1). Before declining, the Black Death killed around forty percent of the European populations, which is about 25 million victims, making it one of the most widely known epidemics. Once the Bubonic Plague died out, it only had two...
unable to farm their lands because they were sick. This plague did not attack only the humans but also
A devastating widespread disease that resulted in about 75 million deaths was known as the Black Death. The disease came from fleas that came off of rats that were commonly found in towns and cities. The fleas would bite the victims, injecting them with the disease. Fleas and rats could be found almost anywhere but they were mainly aboard ships of all kind. This is how the Black Death made its way through European ports. This disease could also be spread through the air from person to person. According to one doctor “instantaneous death occurs when the aerial spirit escaping from the eyes of the sick man strikes the healthy person standing near and looking at the sick” There was no medical knowledge to help the people neither cure nor stop the disease. This sent all of Europe in a panic and changed many of their lives forever.
Have you ever heard of "The Great Mortality," or maybe "The Pestilence?" (Facts) Probably not, but you most likely you heard of the Black Plague or Black Death. This infection terrorized Europe from 1348 through 1351, killing between 75 to 200 million people. Most of the people who contracted the infection died 3 days after catching it. Only a few people lived 4 days after exposure (“The Black Death of 1348 to 1350). Those who did pass away had no documentation of their death, so the exact death count is unknown to historians. The infection originated from Asia in north-western China and came to Europe on cargo traveling on the Silk Road. It is now known that the infection came from the bacterium Yersinisa pestis, which lives in flea guts (Szczepanski). When the flea bites, the bacterium transfers the infection to the victim, being humans or most likely rodents. Common first signs are swollen lymph nodes and black cyst on the armpit or groin area ( Szczepanski). Victims acquired symptoms similar to the flu, their blood dropping in pressure, heart rate increases, and a fever emerges out of nowhere (DesOrmeaux). The Black Plague, an infection that killed millions, defaced a religion, and managed to eliminate a 1/3 to 1/2 of Europe's population.
A common recreational drug that is illegally dealt is Heroin. To many this drug is known by a few slang/street names, some being; smack, brown stone and junk (Tracy, 2012). Heroin is a highly addictive opiate that caused many different issues regarding physical and mental health. It can be consumed in 3 different ways: snorting, injecting and smoking. The original purpose of heroin is far different then the purpose that it is used for today in society. In 1874, heroin was first produced from morphine and 24 years later began its journey in the field of medicine to help morphine addicted patients (Scott, 1998). After use of the medicine it became present that the drug was just as addictive as morphine and was in turn creating patients to become addicted to the new drug. In 1902, doctors ceased the use of heroin in the medical field and a few years following, 8 years later, the first case of a heroin addict was admitted to a hospital for treatment (Scott, 1998). The drug is no longer used for a medical purposes but is still present in the legal drug selling market. Many countries have stiff penalties if caught in possession of or are selling heroin, because this drug is listed as a Class A drug (“Opium, Morphine, Heroin”, n.d.).
Heroin was synthesized from morphine in 1874 by an English chemist, but was not made commercially until 1898 by the Bayer Pharmaceutical Company. Attempts were proposed to use heroin in place of morphine due to problems of morphine abuse. However, it turned out that heroin was also highly addictive, and was eventually classified as an illegal drug in the United States. Today, heroin in the United States comes mostly from Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, Latin America, Mexico, and the Middle East. It is generally sold in a white or brownish powder form or as a black sticky substance known as “black tar” heroin. Heroin found on the streets is usually mixed with other drugs or substances such as sugar, starch, powdered milk, talc, baking...
The advice offers relevant insights for convenience retailers, in light of sharply rising direct store operating expenses (DSOE), a primary industry “watch out” cited at last year’s State of the Industry Summit (SOI) in Chicago. Encompassing wages, payroll taxes, healthcare insurance, card fees, utilities, repairs and supplies, the category is growing quickly and on pace to surpass swipe fees.
Although leprosy has not yet been eradicated, prevalence of the disease has greatly diminished since 1985 the number has reduced more than 90%, and it has an incident rate of >1 case per 10,000 in endemic countries. And reports of infection worldwide of 250,000 people per/year with a mortality rate of seven people per 100,000. Surprisingly, 150-250 reported cases per/years are in the U.S. in states such as, California, Florida, Hawaii and Louisiana.
An estimated 3.7 million people had used heroin at some time in their life, as of 2005. Over 119,000 of the people surveyed reported using it within the month preceding the survey. Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive drug. It is the most abused and quickest way to get a high from the opiates. An opiate is a drug with morphine-like effects, derived from opium. Heroin comes from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of certain varieties of poppy plants. Heroin can be in the form of white or brownish powder, or a black sticky substance known as “black tar heroin.” Purer heroin is becoming more popular on the streets. Most of the street heroin is “cut,” or laced, with other drugs or substances such as sugar, starch, powdered milk, or quinine. Quinine is a bitter crystalline compound present in cinchona bark, used as a tonic and formerly as an ant malarial drug. Most heroin abusers do not know the actual strength or content of the drug which puts them at a greater risk of overdose or death.
Drugs come from a wide variety of different places. Many are from plants but some, like heroin have to be chemically modified from morphine. Places that drugs come from can be very common. Caffeine, some people may not know but is considered a drug, comes from cocoa beans, while nicotine comes from tobacco. Mostly, these drugs have to be grown in their natural habitat, however they can be grown in an artificial setting. Many times because dealing drugs is illegal dealers will set up this setting in the basement of their house or some other discreet place (Vicc Drug Guide).
This strange disease had doctors of those times completely stumped on what was wrong with those poor patients. People died daily as a result of the disease, but not everyone knew exactly why. The awful disease remained relatively unknown until, unfortunately, it took over completely killing its victims. The Black Death struck Europe for the first time in the years 1347-1351 (Dunn 8). This awfully...
Virtue theory is the best ethical theory because it emphasizes the morality of an individual in which their act is upon pure goodness and presents as a model to motivate others. Aristotle was a classical proponent of virtue theory who illustrates the development habitual acts out of moral goodness. Plato renders a brief list of cardinal virtues consisting of wisdom, temperance, courage, and justice. This ethical theory prominently contradicts and links to other theories that personifies the ideal being. However, virtue theorists differ from their own expression of these qualities yet it sets a tone that reflects on the desire to express kindness toward others.
Income inequality continues to increase in today’s world, especially in the United States. Income inequality means the unequal distribution between individuals’ assets, wealth, or income. In the Twilight of the Elites, Christopher Hayes, a liberal journalist, states the inequality gap between the rich and the poor are increasing widening, and there need to have things done - tax the rich, provide better education - in order to shortening the inequality gap. America is a meritocratic country, which means that everybody has equal opportunity to be successful regardless of their class privileges or wealth. However, equality of opportunity does not equal equality of outcomes. People are having more opportunities to find a better job, but their incomes are a lot less compared to the top ten percent rich people. In this way, the poor people will never climb up the ladder to high status and become millionaires. Therefore, the government needs to increase all the tax rates on rich people in order to reduce income inequality.
The VARK model is one of the most common methods that people use to categorise learning styles. It was made by a man named Neil Fleming. The VARK model “expanded on the Neuro-linguistic programming models” (16). It was launched by Neil Fleming in 1987, after he finished his work and studies at Lincoln University. Before Neil Fleming, the VAK model was the most commonly used method to categorise learning styles. The VAK model doesn’t include Read/Write. The Read/Write learning style was created by Neil Fleming after he realised that it was best to split the Visual learning style into Symbolic (Visual), and Read/Write.