I have been home sick for the last 10 days. First was the norovirus that came on suddenly and painfully. Vomiting and diarrhea added to the misery. Finally after four days of that and one day of feeling recovered, I have been felled by a nasty cough and cold.
I always thank Martha for these contagions since she often subs in an elementary school - the petri dish of germs. Thanks!
I have been using my down time reading historical novels which I prefer. But as I lay in bed with tissues wadded up my nose, I thought of this question -
All these old century stories deal with horrible diseases - typhoid, Bubonic plaque, small pox. But I have never read of a protagonist in earlier centuries having a common cold. Did it not exist back then? Did Michelangelo never sneeze on David? Did Cleopatra never cough on Anthony?
And my burning question is - what did they use for tissues? This baby needs her Puffs Plus with Lotion and Vicks. I can’t imagine rubbing rough papyrus on my already raw nose.
If you have any insight, please leave all scholarly research, or fantasy guesses in the comments. Inquiring minds need to know.
I don't want to jinx myself, but I haven't been sick this winter, very odd. As for runny noses, handkerchiefs and sleeves, or the ever popular cover one nostril and blow (hopefully outside while doing this).
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed you avoid sickness for the rest of the season.
DeleteMe too: sick. Not quite as sick, but...ugh. Tissues for nose blowing? That's the burning question? What about tissues for . . . well, for all the things we use tissues????? Must do a deeper dive.
ReplyDeleteWell, no, my burning question (excuse my poorly worded post) is whether the common cold has always plagued humanity, or ii it a more recent phenomenon?
DeleteAccording to some Internet sources; researchers think the common cold may have started spreading from animals to humans around 5 to 6 thousand years ago. ;-)
DeleteAfter 5 or 6 thousand years, I think it's time to give it back to them : )
DeleteI remember reading an autobiography of a woman who was a (white) pioneer in Alaska and the extreme cleaning regimen she used to keep illness at bay. It seemed excessive to me but it was before vaccines so... I'm sure it was appropriate.
ReplyDeleteMy mom was a big user of hankies rather than tissue. She found tissues to be too scratchy on her poor chapped nose.
I'm sure people had the common cold. It was probably just so ordinary that it didn't get into the literature.
Hope you are feeling better!!!!
Well, when I write my autobiography, I will include a whole chapter on the scourge of the common cold so future generations will know just how annoying it is.
DeleteI think they had it, but didn't write about it, considering they had the choice of mentioning plague, fire, et al. About tissues, how about plain cotton pieces of cloth?
ReplyDeleteTruly, what is a handkerchief but a square of cotton? She mostly used large white 'mens' hankies. Now people recoil from the idea of germ harboring handkerchief but to each their own, I guess.
DeleteI have now had this cold/cough long enough to consider it the 8th plague : )
Deletethis post made me laugh. you have time on your coughing hands to be wondering about historical tissues :^). I hope you're feeling better, 8. love kj
ReplyDelete