Page 51 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - February 2014 Edition

10 Oldest Known Diseases 10 Oldest Known Diseases deaths since the Stone Age [source: Shah]. these lesions were due to bone infection that had Granted, that statistic extends the origin Continued from Page 48 of the disease back in time past its first definite come from soft tissue infection. Though there are a few eye diseases that could fit this bill, the mention, which was in the Chinese "Nei Ching" skeletons were found in the Australian region in NUMBER 7: SMALLPOX ("The Canon of Medicine"), around the year which trachoma is most common today. Generally, the goal of mummification is 2700 B.C.E. [source: CDC]. to preserve soft tissue. So, as you would expect, NUMBER ONE: ROCKY Egypt provides a treasure trove of information NUMBER 4: PNEUMONIA MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER on ancient, soft tissue diseases. People breathe more than 11,000 liters Mitochondria are small organelles found One of the first researchers to turn a (3,000 gallons) of air every day [source: in nearly every cell in the human body. And they paleopathological eye on Egyptian mummies Nebraska Department of Environmental perform a function essential to human life, was Sir Marc Armand Ruffer, who in his 1921 Quality]. And so, as you would expect, the converting glucose from food to energy called book "Studies of the Palaeopathology of Egypt" lungs are a favorite home of bacteria, viruses, adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, which cells can described three mummies with "dome shaped fungi and even parasites. And when anything use. vesicles" extremely similar to those expected of foreign colonizes the lungs, the most common But mitochondria carry their own smallpox [source: Ruffer]. The most ancient of result is fluid. The umbrella term we use to genetic material -- separate from human DNA - these mummies was dated 1580 B.C.E., and the describe fluid in the lungs is pneumonia. - and these genes look a lot like those of most recent was the mummy of Ramses V, who Hippocrates wrote that fluid in the lungs bacteria. In other words, it's very likely that the died in 1157 B.C.E. should be called pneumonia if, "the fever be mitochondria that we depend on for survival are After his own inspection of the mummy, acute, and if there be pains on either side, or in the products of an ancient infection [source: Donald R. Hopkins, who participated in the both, and if expiration be if cough be present, Andersson et al.]. World Health Organization's Smallpox and the sputa expectorated be of a blond or livid Whatever the infection, it predates Eradication Program, wrote of Ramses V, color" [source: Hippocrates]. But he also animal life, let alone humans. So there's no use "Inspection of the mummy revealed a rash of distinctly calls it a "disease of the ancients." exploring the fossil record. Instead, researchers elevated 'pustules', each about 2 to 4 millimeters Where exactly does pneumonia place in compared the genes of mitochondria to those of in diameter, that was most distinct on the lower this list of oldest known diseases? Because it's a existing bacteria. The closest match was to face, neck, and shoulders, but was also visible soft tissue disease, the archaeological record bacteria of order Rickettsiales, many of which on the arms." [source: Hopkins] isn't strong. But it's likely that various forms of cause diseases -- including Rocky Mountain Is this conclusive? No, not necessarily, pneumonia have been around as long as our spotted fever [sources: Eremeeva and Dasch, and to date there has been no modern analysis of lungs. Andersson et al.]. Ramses V that could definitively determine if But remember, we're talking about a his condition was, in fact, smallpox. But the NUMBER 3: TUBERCULOSIS disease that existed before animal life. So the circumstantial evidence seems strong. People breathe more than 11,000 liters oldest disease isn't really Rocky Mountain Smallpox is one of history's greatest (3,000 gallons) of air every day [source: Spotted Fever itself, but some unnamed proto- killers, responsible for 300 to 500 million Nebraska Department of Environmental disease with genetic similarity. deaths in the 20th century [source: Saint Louis Quality]. And so, as you would expect, the Long, long ago bacteria invaded a cell. University]. lungs are a favorite home of bacteria, viruses, And because of this infection, we have life as fungi and even parasites. And when anything we know it. [] NUMBER 6: RABIES foreign colonizes the lungs, the most common Rabies is ingenious: Not only does it result is fluid. The umbrella term we use to FACT*oids - Strange But True! infect a host, but it also hijacks the host's brain describe fluid in the lungs is pneumonia. in a way that makes the host want to bite things. Hippocrates wrote that fluid in the lungs - When Antarctica’s Mt. Erebus erupts, it’s lava This is how rabies gets a ticket to ride. And it's should be called pneumonia if, "the fever be contains pure gold. been doing it since at least 2300 B.C.E., when it acute, and if there be pains on either side, or in - In one study, spiders given marijuana started to was described in the Eshuma Code of Babylon both, and if expiration be if cough be present, spin webs but quit halfway through. [source: Rupprecht et al.]. and the sputa expectorated be of a blond or livid - Whale oil was used as a lubricant in car The first person known to have survived color" [source: Hippocrates]. But he also transmissions as recently as 1973. rabies without a vaccination is Jeanna Giese, a distinctly calls it a "disease of the ancients." - Odds that you will drown n a bathtub: 1 in Wisconsin teen who was bitten in 2004 by a Where exactly does pneumonia place in 11,469. In a shower: practically zero. rabid bat while at church. The New York Times this list of oldest known diseases? Because it's a - Famous Foot Fact: Dorothy’s ruby slippers reports that Jeanna went a month between bite soft tissue disease, the archaeological record were size 51/2. and treatment, and was admitted to the hospital isn't strong. But it's likely that various forms of - Most appearances on the cover of Sports with symptoms of full-blown rabies [source: pneumonia have been around as long as our Illustrated: Michael Jordan with 49. Rosenthal]. Doctors at the Children's Hospital lungs. - Foreign Import: Pigs were introduced to North of Wisconsin initiated a cocktail of coma- America by Christopher Columbus. inducing and antiviral drugs, though Giese's NUMBER 2: TRACHOMA - The Kama Sutra lists more than 30 types of family credits prayer with saving the girl's life. Trachoma is a chronic infection of the kisses, such as “Fighting of the Tongues.” upper eyelid that eventually results in the eyelid - Mississippi’s largest “crop”: Catfish - the state NUMBER 5: MALARIA constricting and turning the eyelashes in toward produces 150,000 tons a year. The Romans offered the first cure for the cornea. Over time, the rubbing of the - What do Steve Jobs, Faith Hill and Rev. Jesse malaria: an amulet worn around the neck, constricted eyelid and especially the eyelash Jackson have in common? All were adopted. inscribed with the powerful incantation makes the patient go blind. This is what - Albert Einstein is the only scientist to have had "abracadabra" [source: Shah]. Over the years, happened to Aetius, Paulus Aeginetus, a ticker-tape parade held in his honor in New we've attempted various other cures: adding oil Alexander, Trailaus, Horace and Cicero. And York City (1921). to stagnant puddles to smother mosquito larvae, trachoma is described in Hippocrates and in the - Bestselling U.S. Supermarket Product: using pesticides, vaccines and nets, and even Egyptian Ebers papyrus [sources: Siniscal and Campbell’s Soup, to cans are sold every second. leveraging high-tech solutions such as a laser Nunn]. - Fat Chance: If you’re 5’6” and weigh over 165 that shoots mosquitoes in midair. But the But researchers make a compelling case lbs., wou can become a Sumo Wrestler. disease continues to infect 300 million people for earlier trachoma found in a corner of the - First Movie Star to live in Beverly Hills: every year, killing 1 million of them [source: world little associated with early diseases: Douglas Fairbanks. Shah]. Australia. Aboriginal skeletons from 8000 - The highest point in Florida, Britton Hill, is The Wall Street Journal reports that B.C.E. show a common skull lesion around the only 345 feet above sea level. malaria is responsible for half of all human eyes [source: Webb]. Scientists determined that Look for more FACT*oids in this Newspaper!