My Second (Real) Day

Today was our second day of classes at Cornell. I'm enrolled in Mind, Body and Health. Professor Golden (who told us we could call her "hey prof") lectured on the biography of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) which used to be known as Dropsy, and later, Bright's Disease. She discussed how dropsy was a disease understood by its symptoms (bloating & thirst) and its treatment involved puncturing the sufferer's belly with quills. (eww) then it became known as Bright's Disease, named for its "discoverer" which was understood by clinical and pathological studies. Bright discovered that the urine of the afflicted would curdle when heated, (due to a protein released by the kidney) and by the condition of the kidney during an autopsy (known as a deranged kidney). then it became known as ESRD which is "the complete or near failure of the kidneys to function: to excrete waste, concentrate urine and regulate electrolytes" which was discovered at the time of dialysis machines. she also discussed the implications of dialysis machines, as there weren't enough (dialysis is now guaranteed to all citizens of the USA) and whether they hindered scientific development because no cure has been discovered for ESRD.
My discussion session was great today. we discussed last night's reading (the spirit catches you and you fall down chapters 1-5.) I seem to have a knack for sidetracking the discussions. (yesterday we spent the entire discussion trying to explain to me the difference between a disease and an illness (now that's a difficult question, because I still could not tell you the answer, and neither could anyone in my sections)) and today I asked whether or not Neil Ernst did the right thing by calling CPS on the Lee's, and whether or not there was a better option. I said there was a better option, most of the others disagreed--its too expensive to do anything else!, they asserted.
then I ate lunch at trillium. the food there isn't nearly as good as at north star, or maybe i just have a thing for all you can eat food. after lunch, I began working on my paper (its due Friday!!) about a medical experience that I've had. at 3:00 i went back to class to watch a movie about the 1918 influenza epidemic. we learned an old, very telling, nursery rhyme: I had a little birdie his name was enza i opened the window and in-flew-enza. I wonder if the kids singing realized that it was an airborne disease.
I have to finish a first draft tonight, so I better get back to it.
Till later,
Joseph Young