The Poison Squad

            The poison squad was a group of people who’s main objective was to test the effects of common food additives on the human body. They would all eat foods with progressively higher levels of these food additives until someone would start to get sick. During these series of experiments, the participants would eat only the food prepared in the Poison Squad’s kitchen. They were also required to sign a waiver that would prevent them from suing the government for damages including death. Each of the participants selected had to be men. The leading doctor, Dr. Riley reportedly referred to women as savages.

            During his time at Purdue University, Riley experimented with food additives by testing their effects on dogs. After being hired by the Agriculture department, Riley pushed for having tougher regulations on food additives. Unfortunately high paid lobbyists of the packing and canning industries shot down most of these proposed bills. Riley decided it was necessary to have physical test results to show the effects of the additives on the human body and he convinced congress to fund his “table trials” with $5,000. The first additive tested was a common food preservative called borax. It did not take long for the effects of the additive to be noticed among those in the group. They began to show signs of headaches and digestive problems after consuming them with every meal. The group continued and test many other additives including copper sulfate which is used today more commonly as a pesticide.

            Once the group finally had its test results showing the negative effects of many of these food additives, they had to find a way to beat the lobbyists of the food industry. The secretary of agriculture reportedly even shot down some of the reports from the poison squad himself. Wiley’s efforts eventually started to pay off when the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act were passed in 1906.

Who Was John Snow?

John has been called the father of modern epidemiology for his efforts in finding the source of the cholera out break in London during the 1850’s. From an early age, Snow was interested in medicine and spent much of his time studying and working as an apprentice to different surgeons. He first encountered cholera at a young age. He was sent to treat some of the sick when one of the physicians, he was working for, could not make it around to every patient. Along with attending different colleges to increase his medical knowledge, Snow contributed to the founding of the Epidemiological Society of London following the cholera outbreak of 1849. He spent a lot of his early efforts as a M.D. developing anesthetics.

            The common theory of disease causes around this time in history was that pollution in the air was spread, and then infected those who contracted diseases such as cholera and the bubonic plague. Snow thought that many of these diseases were actually caused by tiny invisible parasites. His research of diseased miners led to this discovery. He realized that many of these miners were working in close proximity underground, and that the parasites were likely spread on the miner’s hands. This happened because they had no means for washing their hands in the mines.

            When cholera struck London in 1849, Snow wanted to do anything he could to trace the source of the outbreak. Due to the digestive symptoms of the disease, Snow looked into possible ways for the water and food sources to become contaminated. He used his own funding to publish a pamphlet including all information that supported his theory. After using this theory, that a contaminated water source is to blame for the spread of cholera, Snow was able trace the water supply to discover the source.

The Flu vaccination, why not?

            According to research, only one in four college students gets flu shots on a regular basis. There are many reasons that could contribute to college students either not wanting to get a flu shot or not even thinking about getting one in the first place. I personally have chosen to get the flu shot the last three years, but decided not to get it this year. My main reason for not continuing to get the flu shot was because my chiropractor advised against it. Her reasoning was that it is better to risk getting the flu than to weaken your immune system and expose your body to foreign chemicals contained in the vaccine especially at this age.

            While away at college, many college students simply do not think about going to get a flu shot or do not have their parents there to influence them into getting one. Another common reason why college age people decide against getting the flu shot is because they have not been sick with the flu before, and for this reason decide they do not really need a flu shot. Some say that they feel they are at the least risk for getting the flu because of their age. The groups at highest risk for the flu are young children and also older adults. Others decide against the flu shot for financial reasons. The flu shot costs money with or without insurance and for this reason many college students who are on a low budget choose to use the money else ware instead of on getting a flu shot.

            There are many arguments for and against the flu shot, but the rate at which college students typically get the flu shot will probably remain lower than the remainder of the population for these reasons.  There are many different opinions on getting the flu shot and not getting the flu shot, but in the end it comes down to the person’s personal opinion on the vaccination.