In The Ether

I was reading a monograph about the Foxglove plant earlier this week, about how originally it was used to treat ‘dropsy’, often killing the patient along the way until a chemist figured out how much of the dried leaf to give, and that digitalis works by strengthening and slowing the heart. It is still widely used today in the treatment of heart failure; as digoxin rather than the macerated leaf. It made me wonder how knowledge is first discovered. Who was the first person to use the leaf all those hundreds, maybe thousands of years ago? Why did they think it would work? Who first noticed the painkilling properties of Willow bark, leading to the discovery of Aspirin? How did people know to treat tumours with the extract of the Yew tree which is incredibly poisonous, centuries before scientists isolated taxanes? Pharmacognosy is endlessly fascinating to me. I often wonder if knowledge is just out there in the Cosmos, and that if I pay enough attention, I can glimpse something out of the corner of my eye. Fanciful, I know. It is the difference between understanding and knowledge. The former is usually to do with discovery, the latter to do with accruing power. So, a large glass of Pimms to the discoverers, and a loud raspberry to the power-mad egomaniacs.

Speaking of which, say hello to the new boss; same as the old boss. I told the people who were traumatised by Trump’s election not to worry last year. It doesn’t matter who you vote for, the same agenda seems to be on the table all the time. And here we are. the same bloodthirsty, warmongering sons and daughters of Belial seem to be hellbent on starting a war in the Middle East, bombing Syria on the most spurious of grounds, and no one seems to be asking for evidence. They don’t even bother with the UN Security Council any more. There’s no money for healthcare or welfare but there’s always money for bombs. Still, man proposes and God disposes, and we shall see what we shall see. It’s just that it’s so disheartening in Holy Week to see us on the same path to destruction.

In a bid to cheer us all up, I’ve provided a link to one of my favourite cartoons, Tex Avery’s Rock-A-Bye Bear. This one is for my brother Wolix. Hope you all have a great week.

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