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AUGUST 7, 2026

THE SENSES: PART V of V

AIKEN-AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER • OUR 20th YEAR

uman vision is an utterly astonishing gift, one whose sheer complexity defies comprehension. Who among us can contemplate something roughly the size of a ping-pong ball (an average human eyeball) which contains a million of something? A million, after all, is a huge number, one that we can easily become desensitized to through over-exposure. And to clarify, we were not saying the eye contains a million examples of anything. It does not. It contains a hundred million — and that’s only for one thing: the retina, which contains over 100 million photoreceptors despite being roughly the size of a quarter. Think of the retina as a tiny solar panel, with each of its 100 million receptors so sensitive that they can detect a single photon of light. That’s the equivalent of hearing so sensitive that you could hear one molecule of air bump into your eardrum. At the center of the retina is a super-dense collection

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of cones (not rods) that make possible the highest visual resolution human eyes can achieve. Known as the fovea, this area, smaller than a pinhead, has on average more than 50,000 cones per square millimeter. A millimeter is about the thickness of a dime, or two credit cards. That is one incredibly tiny square, and it gets even more amazing: in the microscopic center of the fovea (called the foveola) the density can be as high as 200,000 cones per one-millimeter square. The fovea is like the retina’s super-HD pixel cluster, and it is why we can see stars at night, read fine print, and thread needles. You know how TV and computer screens create colors using RGB? If you look very closely at such screens, you’ll see that every color is some combination of Red, Green, or Blue, hence the acronym RGB. Human eyes have the same system, three types of cones, each one specializing in either red, green, or blue. Those three color channels make it possible for the average person to detect roughly a million different colors. There is a condition called tetrachromacy where people (almost always women) have a fourth cone type. Scientists say this condition makes it theoretically possible for such persons to perceive 100 million color variations. Color blindness is the result of bichromacy, having only two working cone types. Our eyes are full-color high-definition movie cameras with auto-focus and instantaneous image stabilization that makes any GoPro camera look like a toy by comparison. Go ahead, try it out right now: quickly tilt your head while keeping your eyes on the page. Your eyes will adjust. Researchers say the image adjustment you just experienced happens within about 7 milliseconds. A related aspect of our image stabilization capabilities are called saccades, pronounced suh-kahdz. It’s not a word most of us have heard before, but it’s a phenomenon we experience a few hundred thousand times a day. A saccade is what our eyes do when they move from one fixed point to another, like reading this line of type, or looking back and forth from a crossword grid to the clue section, or from Please see LOOK! page 16

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THE FIRST 40 YEARS ARE ALWAYS THE HARDEST

• Refusing eye contact may reduce feelings of vulnerability. • Appearing emotionally detached may be a form of dissociation rather than indifference. These behaviors are often driven by fear, not defiance.

THOUGHTS ABOUT

PARENTHOOD THOUGHTS 39

by Dr. Warren Umansky, PhD

School has begun for the year and you are back to dealing with the responsibilities of keeping up with your children’s schoolwork and extracurricular activities and the routine challenges of keeping the family healthy and happy. You love it. Seeing your children happy and productive gives you a lot of satisfaction, even if it seems like the carousel never slows down. Here are some tips to making the year go well: • Have a routine for the day and try to stick to it. Let everyone know if the schedule will change for the next day. • Have a family calendar on the refrigerator and have older children keep their own calendar on their wall with test dates, athletic events, concerts, project due dates, etc. • Be sure everyone is getting to bed on time without electronics. If someone is having trouble getting up in the morning, an earlier bedtime will resolve the problem. • Train your children to get ready in the morning on their own, starting with making their bed. Be sure that part of the routine is that everyone has breakfast. Make good nutrition a part of everyone’s day. • Let the first question you ask your child after arriving home from school be, “What was the best thing that happened at school today?” It shows them that you’re interested in their education and lets them know that you’re aware that good things happen at school! • Homework is best done right after school or after sports practices, rehearsals, etc. Fatigue becomes more of a factor the longer it is delayed and incentives for having the work completed disappear. Depending on the weather, it’s good to be able to allow some outdoor time or screen time as motivation for completing homework and studying. • Have everyone sit down together for dinner as often as possible — without electronics. • Be a good observer of your children, and don’t hesitate to say, “You look sad (or frustrated or tired or happy).” This may open the door for a good conversation about what is going on in the unseen parts of your child’s life. • Know who your children spend time with. • Avoid letting your children isolate in their rooms with electronics, and monitor their electronics. • Life is busy, but take time to do things together. It doesn’t have to cost anything. Try taking walks, going to the park, doing jigsaw puzzles, playing catch or kicking a soccer ball, doing a hobby together (e.g., knitting, stamp collecting, woorworking, baking or cooking), or reading a book together. • Go through your children’s bookbag together at least weekly. The younger your children are when you start, the more accepting they will be when they get older. It shows your interest in what they are working on, ensures that you are not missing notices that require your attention, and helps with keeping the bookbag organized and free of old papers that can be filed or recycled. • Let your children see your face at home, not the top of your head! Put phone and tablet aside when your children are home and give them your time and attention. • Most of all, let the words “I love you” be a part of every family member’s daily vocabulary. And show your affection for your children with lots of hugs and kisses. Dr. Umansky has a child behavioral health practice in Augusta.

AUGUST 7, 2026

“HE NEVER LISTENS!” TRAUMA RESPONSES THAT LOOK LIKE DEFIANCE Misinterpreted behaviors in clinical and legal settings

Editor’s note: Written by local mental healthcare professionals, this series explores how people may think and act when affected by common and lesser-known mental health conditions.

Twelve-year-old Michael had become a frequent visitor to the principal’s office. Teachers described him as argumentative, disrespectful, and unwilling to follow directions. He often refused to make eye contact, walked away when corrected, and occasionally exploded in anger over seemingly minor issues. His behavior was labeled as defiance. When a school counselor took time to learn more about Michael’s history, a different picture emerged. Two years earlier, he had witnessed severe domestic violence in his home. Loud voices immediately put him on edge. Being corrected in front of classmates made him feel trapped and unsafe. When adults raised their voices, his brain reacted as though he were in danger again. Michael wasn’t trying to challenge authority. His nervous system was trying to protect him. While not every oppositional behavior is trauma-related, many trauma survivors develop protective responses that can easily be mistaken for willful disobedience or disrespect. Understanding the difference can dramatically change how we respond—and improve outcomes for children and adults alike. What Are Trauma Responses? Trauma responses are automatic emotional, physical, and behavioral reactions that develop after experiencing overwhelming or threatening events. When the brain senses danger, it activates survival mechanisms designed to protect the individual. However, these responses can still occur long after the threat has passed. In fact, trauma changes how the brain detects and responds to perceived threats. As a result, ordinary situations may trigger survival behaviors. Trauma-related responses are commonly associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder but may also occur after adverse childhood experiences, abuse, neglect, community violence, or other traumatic events. When Survival Looks Like Defiance What appears to be defiance is sometimes the brain’s attempt to remain safe. For example: • Refusing to follow directions may reflect fear of losing control. • Walking away during conflict may be an attempt to avoid emotional overwhelm. • Yelling or becoming aggressive may represent a survival response rather than intentional disrespect.

Signs and Symptoms Emotional Features • Anxiety or fear • Irritability • Emotional outbursts • Difficulty trusting others Cognitive Patterns • Constant scanning for danger (hypervigilance) • Expecting criticism or rejection • Difficulty interpreting others’ intentions accurately Behavioral Patterns • Arguing with or resisting authority figures • Avoiding certain people, places, or situations • Sudden withdrawal during conflict • Aggression when feeling cornered • Difficulty following instructions during periods of stress Physical Symptoms • Rapid heartbeat • Muscle tension • Startle response • Difficulty calming after conflict Functional Impact • School disciplinary problems • Workplace conflicts • Family relationship strain • Increased involvement with behavioral or legal systems Why Trauma Is Often Misunderstood Trauma responses frequently occur outside of conscious awareness. The person is reacting before they have time to think through the situation logically. The brain’s alarm system activates first. Rational thinking comes later. This helps explain why someone may later say: • “I don’t know why I reacted like that.” Please see THOUGHTS page 3

AUGUST 7, 2026

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

THOUGHTS... from page 2 • “I knew I was overreacting, but I couldn’t stop.” • “I just needed to get out of there.” Without understanding trauma, these behaviors can easily be mistaken for manipulation, laziness, disrespect, or poor character.

by perceived danger.

Clinical and Legal Relevance Trauma-informed care has become increasingly important in healthcare, schools, child welfare, and the legal system. In clinical settings, recognizing trauma responses can lead to more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatment plans. In legal settings, trauma may help explain behaviors such as: • Escalation during police encounters • Difficulty complying with commands under stress • Aggressive reactions during perceived threats • Avoidance of authority figures Importantly, understanding trauma does not excuse unlawful behavior or eliminate accountability. Rather, it provides context that may influence treatment recommendations, rehabilitation efforts, and strategies for reducing future risk. Recognizing trauma can shift the question from “What’s wrong with this person?” to “What happened to this person?”

could control it.” Self-regulation often requires rebuilding skills that trauma has disrupted. Treatment helps restore those abilities over time.

Common Misconceptions X “They’re just being disrespectful.” Some behaviors that appear oppositional are actually survival responses triggered

X “They’ve choosen to behave this way.” Many trauma reactions occur automatically, before conscious decision-making is engaged. X “If they really tried, they

X “Trauma explains away

everything.” Trauma is an important factor to consider, but not every behavioral problem is trauma-related. Comprehensive assessment is essential to understand each individual’s circumstances. Treatment Healing focuses on helping the brain recognize that the danger has passed and developing healthier ways to respond to stress. • Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy Evidence-based therapies help individuals process traumatic experiences and reduce automatic survival responses. • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) CBT helps identify triggers, challenge unhelpful beliefs, and build healthier coping strategies. • Emotional Regulation Skills Individuals learn techniques to recognize early signs of emotional activation and respond before behaviors escalate. • Family and Caregiver Education

Parents, teachers, and loved ones benefit from understanding informed approaches that emphasize safety, consistency, and connection rather than punishment. • Collaborative Care Treatment may include coordination among mental health professionals, primary care providers, schools, and community resources to support long-term recovery. Prognosis With appropriate treatment, many individuals experience significant improvement in emotional regulation, relationships, and daily functioning. As the nervous system becomes less reactive, defiant behaviors often decrease naturally. Without recognition and treatment, trauma responses may continue to be misunderstood, leading to repeated disciplinary actions, strained relationships, unnecessary legal involvement, and worsening mental health. Understanding trauma-informed care does not remove accountability—it improves it. By recognizing the difference between intentional defiance and a survival response, families, clinicians, educators, and legal professionals can respond in ways that promote healing while still maintaining appropriate expectations and responsibility.

About Us IPS provides inpatient and outpatient mental health services, with or without a referral, to help patients and their families progress through the care journey.To make an appointment, call 706-2041366 or visit integratedpsych.care

He just looks friendly.

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CYCLOSPORA 101

The current explosion (pardon that particular word) of cyclosporiasis cases around the country is perplexing for multiple reasons. For starters, the sole source of the cyclospora parasite is contamination from human feces. There is no other source. With thousands of cases springing up across the country, it’s only natural to wonder how something that should be extremely rare — that kind of contamination at any point in our food supply chain — is apparently so commonplace that it has created a national plague. A second aspect of this public health issue involves the tremendous challenge facing people trying to stamp out the outbreak. You won’t believe what you’re about to read. But first, how in the world can this happen in the first place? Does any farm worker use the bathroom anymore, or do they just go in the fields? Doesn’t anybody wash their hands afterward anymore? There is no need to imagine a massive systemic failure of safe farming or personal hygiene practices. A single packing facility, or even one farm worker, can result in a contaminated crop that gets shipped nationwide. It could all start as simply as one damaged septic tank leaking into irrigation water used on a big farm. It could be a single contaminated wash tank in one packing house. It could be a lone worker defecating near a field. Remember, agriculture is a global enterprise, and produce is shipped to the U.S. from many other places, including from countries that do not have the same sanitation infrastructure or rigorous inspections this country does. Fresh produce is harvested in bulk and washed, packed and shipped the same way. One lapse can result in thousands of bags of produce heading out across the country, full of products like lettuce, cilantro, basil, berries and more that we eat raw. In other words, there is no cyclospora kill step between farm and plate. What does it take to kill cyclospora? A lot. See page 6.

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The Medical Examiner’s mission: to provide information on topics of health and wellness of interest to general readers, to offer information to assist readers in wisely choosing options that promote better health, and to serve as a central source pf salubrious news within every part of the Augusta area’s medical community. Direct editorial and advertising inquiries to: Daniel Pearson, Publisher & Editor Email: Dan@AugustaRx.com Augusta Medical Examiner PO Box 397, Augusta Georgia 30903-0397 (706) 284-7287 Website: www.AugustaRx.com • Email: Dan@AugustaRx.com www.Facebook.com/AugustaRx Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and/or their respective institutions. Neither the Augusta Medical Examiner, Pearson Graphic 365 Inc., nor its agents or employees take any responsibility for the accuracy of submitted information, which is presented for general informational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment, consult your doctor. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. © 2026 PEARSON GRAPHIC 365 INC.

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#263 IN A SERIES

Who is this?

AUGUST 7, 2026

ADVENTURES IN

Middle Age BY J.B. COLLUM

ave you been a Medical Examiner reader since the very beginning 20 years ago? If so, you may remember the striking image on the front page of one of our very first issues, a tennis player with no clothing, and no skin. It was like a classroom anatomy model showing all the muscle groups right there in plain view. Except it wasn’t a model. It was an actual person whose body had been “plastinated.” A traveling exhibit called Body Worlds had brought dozens of fascinating examples of what lies beneath our skin to Atlanta, and the show was profiled in the Examiner. The 4-step process was invented by Gunther von Hagens (left), who died last week in Germany at age 81. His technique yielded bodies and body parts that did not decay or smell, were durable enough to be touched, and that for the most part looked just like the real thing — mostly because they were the real thing. Initially, plastination was only for small tissue specimens intended for medical study. After about 20 years he developed equipment large enough to create whole body specimens (which took up to 1,500 hours of work), and eventually even larger projects, like gorillas and a giraffe. Body Worlds had a number of different tours that traveled the world, each displaying new specimens. The preservation operation itself spanned several countries, leading to various controversies and legal problems. For example, bodies procured in China had bullet holes in their skulls, and a Siberian coroner shipped 56 corpses to von Hagens’ facility in Heidelberg. Although he was not charged with any crime, the incidents raised questions about political prisoners and whether the bodies were obtained ethically, as well as whether the deaths were natural or by execution. Von Hagens (nee Liebchen) took his last name from his wife, who is the creative director of the Body Worlds exhibitions. About 15 years ago, von Hagens announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and that upon his death his wife would plastinate his body. His ultimate plan was to open a Museum of Man in London, with his own remains posed at the entrance to greet visitors. Von Hagens always wore a black fedora in public, a tribute to Rembrandt’s painting The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp.

Insulin is not a permission slip. I know they come prepackaged with a serving that, but do I “know” know that? size that appears to say “one bar.” There This coming Wednesday, I go back to is no provision for eating half a candy the doctor for my 90-day follow-up after bar. I can’t wrap up the remaining half, starting insulin. I’m looking forward to place it in a secure location, and think the appointment—mostly. about what I’ve done. The insulin has made a noticeable And ice cream? Ice cream has been difference. I have more energy, less brain unfairly designed from the beginning. It fog, and more stamina. The heart issues I combines sugar, fat, coldness, creamiwas having—including angina and heart ness, and childhood memories in a single flutter—that I had begun attributing to container. Nobody has ever opened a car“being almost sixty” have alton of ice cream and thought, most completely disappeared. have exactly two level taCookies are “I’ll I’m feeling better at sixty than blespoons and then return this I did at fifty-nine, which seems social creatures to the freezer.” If they did, that unfair to fifty-nine but is otheris a sick individual who needs wise excellent news. psychiatric care posthaste. If There is, however, one small matter that person actually exists, I wouldn’t hanging over the appointment. My A1C. trust them. The A1C test is wonderfully designed to So yes, I’ve been a little looser about prevent patients from lying to themselves sugar since starting insulin. But is that (and their doctors), though that is some- entirely my fault? I didn’t invent cookies, thing I usually do quite well. A regular candy bars, or ice cream. I didn’t make blood sugar reading is merely a snapshot. them delicious. I wasn’t involved in the If it’s good, you can look innocent and decision to place candy at every checkout say, “See? Everything is under control,” counter in America, directly in the path as you bat your lashes and pose in as of tired adults whose self-control has alinnocent a fashion as you can manage. ready been depleted by shopping. I didn’t The A1C is more like a surveillance install those “Hot Donuts Now” signs at video. It knows what you did all summer. Krispy Kreme. I am merely a victim of It is like Big Brother. It is like those Flock an extremely successful food-distribution cameras all over the place, watching our system. I’m telling you, it’s not my fault! every move. It knows about the cookies. Unfortunately, I suspect my doctor It knows about the candy bars. It even may reject this defense. Doctors tend to knows about the ice cream. be very rigid about personal responsiAnd it knows that somewhere during bility. You can explain that the donuts the past three months, I may have begun looked lonely, and the ice cream would treating insulin less like a serious medical eventually develop freezer burn, but treatment and more like a permission slip they keep returning to irritating subjects signed by my pancreas. like carbohydrates, portion control, and This was never a conscious decision. long-term cardiovascular health. They are I didn’t leave the doctor’s office thinktrained to resist even the strongest arguing, “Excellent! Now I can begin my ments. The deck is stacked against you. long-awaited career in competitive desOf course, underneath all the joking, sert eating.” Instead, it happened graduI know the truth. Insulin is helping me, ally. but it isn’t magic. It doesn’t erase what I Before insulin, something sweet came eat, and feeling better doesn’t mean I can with the knowledge that my blood sugar return to the habits that helped get me was already too high and that I really here. If anything, feeling better should shouldn’t make things worse. After inmake me want to protect the progress sulin began bringing my numbers down, I’ve made and make more. the little voice in my head changed its That is the frustrating part about imargument. proving your health. The reward for do“Your sugar is better now,” it whising better is that you have to keep doing pered in sultry tones. “Surely one cookie better. That’s a terrible deal. won’t hurt.” You don’t reach a point where the docThe problem is that cookies rarely tor shakes your hand and says, “Congrattravel alone. They are social creatures. ulations. You have completed diabetes. One cookie invites another cookie over, Here is your free membership card for and before long there’s a small gathering the donut of the week club.” taking place in my stomach. Instead, you get another appointPlease see ADVENTURES page 9 Candy bars are even worse because

AUGUST 7, 2026

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

Ocean. As far as Grandpa was concerned, she was swimming independently within the approximately eighteen inches of freedom I was prepared to allow. The smaller waves usually rolled beneath her. She would rise with them, settle back down, and keep kicking. If a wave looked as though it might break over her head, I grabbed her and lifted her high enough to keep her above it. Every now and then, one surprised us and splashed her in the face. When that happened, all that fierce independence disappeared for a moment. She would turn around quickly and reach for me, looking for protection and comfort. I would pull her close, steady her, and let her recover. Last week, our daughter Katie gave us A couple of minutes later, she would a three-day trip to Hilton Head Island. We push away again. “Oof!” And off we went. stayed in a condo right on the beach from That may have been my favorite part of Thursday through Saturday. We like it that watching her in the ocean. It was not that way because it gives us Sunday to recover. she was never frightened. Courage does The traveling party consisted of my wife, not mean never being frightened. It means Lorie; Katie; our thirteen-year-old grandgetting a face full of salt water, retreating son, Alexander; Freyja; and me. On Friday, to Grandpa long enough to feel safe again, we spent the better part of the day either and then deciding you are ready for anothon the beach or in the ocean. Because any er wave. outing involving Freyja requires We had also brought an more equipment than a moderinflatable raft large enough to The Word ately sized military operation, we hold four people. Freyja and came prepared with life jackets, of the Day: Alexander climbed aboard a folding canopy, food and drinks while I pushed them around in a cooler, toys, chairs, towels, and helped them catch waves an inflatable four-person raft, back toward shore. They rode quarts of sunblock, and various and sundry together while I guided the raft, watched other beach supplies. the water, and tried to give them just Freyja loves the water. More than that, enough of a push for the waves to carry she loves freedom in the water. She is a them in. natural swimmer, but the ocean is not As I did it, I found myself thinking about a swimming pool. Currents, waves, and my father. When I was young, he did the sudden changes in depth do not care how same thing for us. He would take us into confident you are, so we kept her in a good the ocean, help us catch the waves, and life jacket designed to hold her upright. send us riding back toward the beach. At The life jacket made her safe. We adults the time, I was focused entirely on the fun made her safer. She did not always appreof it. I never thought about the man beciate the distinction. When I held onto her, hind the raft—watching the waves, judging she would push away from me and kick the timing, doing the pushing, and making her legs as if to say, “I’ve got this, Grandpa. sure everyone came safely back to shore. You can go now.” Now I was that man. Unfortunately, almost every time she Because of Freyja, Alexander, and that kicked away, she kicked me directly in the raft, I spent more time in the ocean than I man parts. Occasionally—mercifully—she have during many of our beach trips over caught me in the belly instead. the past several years. Somewhere along She would push off, I would go, “Oof!” the way, adults can begin experiencing the and then I would follow along behind her beach mainly from a chair. We sit beneath as though nothing had happened. This is an umbrella, enjoy the breeze, watch the one of the less frequently discussed parts water, and occasionally talk about getting of grandparenting. Sometimes you provide in it. wisdom. Sometimes you provide comfort. Children do not understand this perfectSometimes you absorb repeated blows to ly reasonable approach to the ocean. They sensitive areas while making sure your expect you to participate. So I pushed the granddaughter does not get knocked over raft. I followed Freyja through the waves. by a wave. I lifted her above the big ones, comforted I stayed close behind her as she kicked her when they caught her by surprise, and through the water, ready to grab her when- secretly held onto her life jacket while ever a wave approached. Most of the time, allowing her to believe she was doing it all I kept one hand on a strap of her life jacket herself. without letting her realize I was doing it. Maybe that is a pretty good picture of As far as Freyja was concerned, she was what parenting—and grandparenting— swimming independently in the Atlantic Please see SPECIAL FORCES page 9

Special Forces

Parenting

OOF!

5 #38 IN A SERIES

Who is this?

Not everyone in healthcare can be Florence Nightingale, right? Despite the long-running series on page 4, there are clunkers in medicine, and we will examine some of them in this series. Unfortunately, there’s enough material to keep this side of the page going for a while.

any of the people profiled on this side of the page have been the embodiment of evil, murdering patients and/or strangers for reasons ranging from greed to thrill-seeking. As for this man, what do you think; does he deserve to be here? He didn’t kill anyone. Not directly anyway, not as far as anyone knows. On the other hand, he would have a hard time proving that he wasn’t greedy, and the proceeds from his pseudo-medical career must have been quite a thrill. Born in Texas around 1854, Clark Stanley came to a degree of fame starting in 1893 at the World Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. He claimed to have spent two years, starting in 1879, learning the secrets of Hopi medicine at the feet of a Medicine Man in Arizona. These secrets included the amazing healing properties of “snake oil.” Ads for Clark Stanley’s Snake Oil Liniment make his concoction seem like something we could definitely use today. It was promised to be effective for “rheumatism, neuralgia, sciatica, lame back, lumbago, contracted cords, toothache (although the label said “used external only”), sprains, swellings, etc.” But that’s not all. It was also good for treating “frost bites, chill blains, bruises, sore throat, bites of animals, insects and reptiles.” And if anything was accidentally left off the list, ads also said the product was “good for everything a liniment ought to be good for.”And that it was “good for man and beast.” And that “it gives immediate relief.” In 2026, all of that would be followed by the fine print stating that not one of the promises just made had been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration, along with another disclaimer warning buyers that this very product is not intended to treat any disease. Maybe Clark Stanley is one of the good guys after all, because he and other “snake oil salesmen” like him were a major reason for passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. Subsequent evaluations of his liniment found it to be mainly mineral oil with some added beef fat, capsaicin from chili peppers, and a dash of turpentine. Once that analysis was completed, Stanley was deemed to be in violation of the Act and fined $20 (over $500 in 2026 dollars). Ouch! Hand me some liniment!

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

QA... from page 3 As we were saying on page 3, it shouldn’t be all that surprising that our food supply is contaminated by human feces. As gross as it sounds, it can happen very easily. In addition to the various ways we’ve already mentioned, here’s a situation most of us have probably seen: You pull up at Walmart or Kroger and see where someone changed their baby’s diaper and left the dirty diaper right there in the parking lot. What kind of savages do such a thing? But to our point, what if instead of being in a parking lot in the sprawling urban metropolis in which we live, that parking lot was in a farming community, and runoff from the parking lot went into a creek that meandered through farms and fields and was used for irrigation? That’s how easily water used in agriculture can become contaminated. And once that contamination goes from water to produce, it’s extremely difficult to contain and control. For starters, here’s a shocking but true statement: you could drench cyclospora in pure bleach and it would have no effect on it whatsoever. So if you wonder why the cyclospora parasite isn’t destroyed by stomach acid — which supposedly can dissolve nails, right? — there’s your answer. If bleach won’t touch it, stomach acid certainly won’t either. Cyclospora is packaged in what

amounts to an armored capsule, and the armor has multiple layers that repel or ignore digestive enzymes, acids, chlorine, extreme temperature swings, direct sunlight, drought, pesticides, refrigeration, living in sewage, and probably nuclear attack. But guess what does convince cyclosporae to relax, to let down their guard and open up? The friendly confines of a small intestine. It’s like paradise! This armored Trojan horse then releases what are called sporozoites which invade intestinal cells, and suddenly we’re using the third word of this article again. And guess what the only sure-fire way to kill cyclospora is, at least the only way available in the average kitchen? Heat. Cooking to at least 158°F. Next question: how many recipes do you know that combine lettuce and cooking? Five? Two? You’re saying zero? Lettuce is a common vector because it’s eaten raw (zero recipes, remember?), it’s irrigated frequently, and lettuce has all kinds of folds and crevices to play host to contaminated water. So is it impossible to protect yourself? No. One strategy is to pay attention to produce recalls. Choose fruits that can be peeled and vegetables that can be cooked at times like right now when an outbreak is active. And don’t stop washing produce. It’s useless against cyclospora as we’ve said, but it’s still effective against other undesirables.

HAVE YOU HEARD?

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AUGUST 7, 2026

I WAS THINKING by Pat Tante

LET’S TALK ABOUT DENTAL VISITS I recently had my semi-annual dental cleaning. As I sat in the waiting room, I was aware that the room was freezing! Why keep it so cold, I wondered? My aha moment was when I figured out that it was a good way to make patients glad to go into a warm examination room. I had already been to the dentist three times this year in preparation and installation of a crown. It took all that time to select and order the jewels, you know. We might as well joke about dental visits – sort of a necessary evil, you might say. No one enjoys them; no one wants to pay for them. But, everyone enjoys a good chewable steak, right? I have told my dentist that it is his job to ensure that my teeth and gums go with me when I cross over the rainbow bridge. Also, I want my newspaper obituary photo to be very toothy and smiley if there are still newspapers then, and if they still do obituaries. (Maybe I should wear my crown.) As a dental patient, I try to be the best one ever. The doctor and hygienist have to get very close to you, after all. So after my morning shower on the day of, I floss, brush, pick, gargle and repeat. Several times. I don’t want to offend them while they have those sharp instruments! I am also usually a little nervous and chatty and make profound remarks such as “my mouth makes good plaque!” and “Oh, I don’t mind the water splashing (as it runs down my neck into my underwear). As the exam proceeds, I’ll make remarks such as “mffblut dwrumpt mpordyfm,” etc. I think they understand me. Even on just a regular cleaning day, I have a little anxiety as I stretch out in the chair. So, when the picking and digging festivities begin I find myself stiff as a board. The only things touching the chair are my head and feet. I tell myself to relax - it’s only a cleaning! I admire people who go into dentistry – better than proctology, I’d guess. Did they decide that working in strange mouths all day would be a fun thing to do? There’s bound to be the occasional case of halitosis or smoker’s breath. (By the way, this is a medical paper so I can say things like proctology, halitosis and dental plaque.) I have a hard time thinking that dental professionals just do it for the money; but whatever their reasons are, I am certainly glad that they do. KEEP CALM AND FLOSS ON!

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TRYTHISDISH AUGUST 7, 2026

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top and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours. Once done pull the brisket apart and shred with 2 forks or your hands, combine the brisket with the liquid in the slow cooker for a moist sandwich. Serve ~1/2 to ¾ cups of pulled meat on each bun and top with onion rings. You will likely have extra meat which will make a great leftover meal.

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Ingredients • 1 tablespoon Jane’s Krazy Mixed-Up salt • 1 3-pound brisket trimmed of fat • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil • 2 cups no-salt-added beef broth; divided • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce • 2 sweet onions, sliced into rings • 8 whole wheat buns Directions Rub the salt blend over the brisket. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once oil is hot add brisket to pan and allow to brown on all sides (about3 minutes per side). Place seared (browned) brisket in a slow cooker. Add about ¼ cup of broth to the pan you used to brown the brisket and deglaze the pan. To deglaze a pan simply turn the heat on low and use a wooden spoon to scrap the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Once the brown bits are incorporated into the liquid pour it over the brisket. Add the Worcestershire sauce and remaining broth. Position the onions on

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THE BUZZ ON MOSQUITOES Part 7 in a series “What is Public Health?” TIP & TOSS TO FIGHT THE BITE by Mindy Kruty-Crothers, BS, MPH We all know that mosquitoes are a nuisance, but did you know that they are the deadliest animals in the world? Sharks, which are notoriously feared, only kill about 10 people annually. Mosquitoes, however, kill nearly one million people every year! They spread mosquito-borne diseases such as Malaria, Dengue Fever, and West Nile Virus worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Every year in Richmond County we have cases of West Nile Virus, which can lead to illness and even death. The best way to protect yourself from getting sick is to prevent mosquito bites in the first place. Only female mosquitoes bite. They are attracted to the carbon dioxide gas that we exhale. Mosquitoes can detect CO2 up to 150 feet away. These critters spend 75% of their life cycle in water. Only adult mosquitoes live on land. Generally, they don’t fly far from where they emerge to find food – between 300 feet and 3 miles, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Mosquito eggs are not cheaper by the dozen – they lay 100-300 at a time! Just an inch of standing water is all they need to lay their eggs.

Prevent mosquito bites “Tip and Toss” is the first step to cleaning up around your home and yard. Decreasing the number of adult mosquitoes on your property means reducing larval habitats. Eliminate standing water around your home and yard, particularly in the spring, summer, and fall months. Empty, remove, or cover items that can hold water, such as tires, flowerpots, buckets, trash cans, toys, kiddie pools, wheelbarrows, wagons, tarps, litter, and even bottle caps. Ensure that pools are filtered and treated with the appropriate chemicals. If a pool is no longer in use, fill it in or remove it to prevent a mosquito breeding habitat. Empty pet water dishes and bird baths once a week. Ensure that house gutters are not clogged and holding pools of water. Fill tree holes with cement or sand and fill in low-laying areas in your yard to prevent puddles.

AUGUST 7, 2026

matters. Avoid being outside around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. Keep mosquitoes outside You don’t want to be a sitting target in your own home. Check windows and door screens and repair any holes or tears. Use fans indoors and outdoors. Mosquitoes are weak flyers, and fans in sitting rooms, breezeways, on patios and on decks will help keep them away. If the mosquito bites Most likely, you will just have to deal with the nuisance of an itchy bump or two or three. Most people infected with West Nile virus (80%) do not develop symptoms. However, the signs of severe illness include high fever, body aches, headache, joint pain, neck stiffness, fatigue, muscle weakness, disorientation, stupor, coma, tremors, convulsions, vision loss, numbness or paralysis. These symptoms require immediate medical attention. Be sure to inform your doctor that you suspect a mosquito bite as the cause.

Personal protection Want to avoid becoming an item in a mosquito’s buffet? Wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and loose-fitting pants, plus socks when you go outdoors. This is true even in hot weather, if you are RESEARCH serious about not being a mosquito’s next meal. Wearing an EPA-approved HEALTH PROMOTION mosquito repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is effective, according to the CDC. The time of day also

Unwanted infestation? Call “311” or (706)-8212300 to report unusually high numbers of mosquitoes. When you report a mosquito infestation, a technician from the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Mosquito Control section will inspect your yard for signs of mosquito activity. The tech will spray to kill adult mosquitoes flying in the area. They’ll also remove or treat any mosquito breeding habitats on your property. With these simple but effective prevention strategies, you can help reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illness in our community. Tip and Toss to Fight the Bite! About the Author. Mindy Kruty-Crothers, BS, MPH is Director of Mosquito and Vector Surveillance in the Department of Environmental Health at the East Central Health District.

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The “What is Public Health?” Series is authored by public health experts at the Georgia Department of Public Health, East Central Health District (ECHD) with administrative offices in Augusta, GA. Learn

more about the ECHD at our website: https://ecphd.com. • Facebook www.facebook. com/ECPHD • Twitter http://twitter.com/ eastcentralph References Insects and diseases. Georgia Department of Public Health. (n.d.). https://dph.georgia.gov/ environmental-health/insects-and-diseases Mosquito Control. (October 2, 2024). Mosquitoes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https:// www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/ mosquito-control/index.html Mosquito Education. (August 28, 2024). Brightside St. Louis. https://www. brightsidestl.org/what-wedo/mosquito-education Richmond County Mosquito Control. East Central Health District. (October 23, 2025). https://ecphd.com/ environmental-health/mosquito-control World’s Deadliest Animal: Number of People Killed by Animals . (2020). World Health Organization. Retrieved 2026, from https://www.sgvmosquito. org/2020-09-07-the-deadliestanimal-s-worst-nightmare

AUGUST 7, 2026

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ADVENTURES... from page 4 ment, another blood test, and another opportunity to discover whether your definition of “occasionally” matches the one used by modern medicine. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t. So I’ll go to the doctor on Wednesday and face the music. Perhaps my A1C will show a significant improvement. Perhaps it will still be higher than either of us would like. Most likely, it will be some combination of encouraging and mildly embarrassing. Whatever the number is, it will at least tell me the truth. And if it’s bad, I intend to accept full responsibility. Right after I finish blaming Krispy Kreme. J.B. Collum, the author of this column and Special Forces Parenting, is a local novelist, humorist and columnist who wants to be Mark Twain when he grows up. He may be reached at johnbcollum@gmail.com

eventually becomes. You cannot hold on so tightly that they never experience anything for themselves. But you also cannot simply turn them loose and hope every wave is a small one. Of course, with a child who has special needs, especially at Freyja’s age, we really don’t know how much independence she will ever be able to have. We hope for the best, give her all the freedom we safely can, and, above all, hope she has a happy life. So you stay close. You watch what is coming. You let them feel brave and independent. And when a wave is too large, you lift them above it. If you do it well, they may never notice how often you were holding on. Although, in Freyja’s case, Grandpa’s repeated cries of “Oof!” may have given her a clue.

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CRASH

AUGUST 7, 2026

CAPTION THIS PICTURE!

COURSE

More Americans have died on US roads since 2000 than in World Wars I & II combined

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his article is not going to be about the dent! In the case of the NHTSA study, kind of dent they can fix at Classic 2,046,000 of the 2,189,000 crashes were Collision. It’s about putting a huge dent caused by driver error. in the rate of crashes on our roads. As the data was analyzed, the misThe more anyone pokes around the takes were divided into just four broad internet looking for information about categories of error: highway safety, the more likely they are Recognition error: driver inattention, to eventually notice someinternal and external disthing curious: the word tractions, and inadequate “accident” is rather scarce. surveillance. CRASHES Especially if you’re reading Decision error: driving about alarming statistics too fast for conditions, VS. where fatalities are trendtoo fast for a curve, ACCIDENTS driving ing sharply upward, or false assumptions of other have hit levels unheard of driver’s actions, illegal main decades, or are in some neuvers, and misjudgment way extreme. That has happened a lot in of gap or speed of other vehicles. recent years. For instance, traffic deaths Performance error: Includes overcomin 2020 were off the charts despite the pensation and poor directional control. fact that millions of drivers spent major Non-performance error: Most often chunks of 2020 in lockdown. Millions of involves the driver falling asleep. fewer miles driven should have resulted Inadequate surveillance error: this in thousands of deaths being preventincludes errors like failing to look both ed. Instead, 2020 was the worst year ways or not looking long enough, failfor traffic fatalities in Georgia and most ure to recognize and react to a visible other states in more than 5 years, both hazard, and misjudging distance in simple quantity and as measured by NHTSA found that almost 75% of fatalities per 100 million miles driven or crashes were the fault of the first two per 100,000 population. factors (recognition error, 41%, and One would have expected resulting ar- decision errors, 33%). ticles about traffic accidents galore. And Their study found that sometimes one would be disappointed. multiple factors result in crashes. An Highway safety experts talk about inattentive driver (recognition) may hit crashes, not accidents. Why? a curve too fast (decision), skid on bald Simply put, crashes happen; accitires (vehicle), hit a patch of ice (envidents do not. Not very often, anway. ronment), and then overcorrect (perforThe National Highway Traffic Safety mance) before hitting a tree (environAdministration (NHTSA) tracked down ment again). NHTSA analysis concluded data on some 2,189,000 crashes that that in some cases preventing just one occurred during a recent two-and-a-half link in the chain of events leading to a year period. Of those crashes, 2% were collsion is enough to prevent the crash. caused by unknown factors, 2% fell In the example just described, if the under the general term “environment,” driver had simply been paying attenand another 2% were attributed to “vetion, the excess speed going into the hicle.” The remaining 94% were caused curve may never have happened, preby driver error. Technically and literalventing the skid - even though his tires ly, they were not accidents. They were were bald - avoiding the patch of ice and preventable mistakes. the resulting overcorrection and finally, Think about the implications of that. the tree. 94% of the actions that result in colTo put it another way, safe driving lisions were within the control of the does more than prevent crashes, injuries driver to prevent. Talk about a huge and fatalities. It saves trees too.

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AUGUST 7, 2026

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The medical condition most men ignore (and shouldn’t) Thomas W. Wehmann, D.O. Every summer, Augusta finds plenty of reasons to be on its feet. Families walk the Riverwalk on cooler evenings, crowds work their way through GreenJackets games, and weekends at Clarks Hill turn into long afternoons of walking, standing and pushing off the dock. By Sunday night, plenty of legs around here are heavier than they were on Friday morning. Most of those legs bounce back, but some of them don’t, and that’s the part I want to talk about. Chronic venous insufficiency is the medical term. Most patients have never said it out loud, but the symptoms turn up in my exam room every week. Symptoms usually include: aching at the end of a long shift; ankles that swell during the day but look normal by morning; restless legs that won’t let you fall asleep; a heaviness in the calves that gets blamed on the concrete floors at work, or the marches at Fort Gordon 20 years ago. Sometimes there are visible varicose veins, but plenty of patients have none at all. Here’s the part that surprises most. The Edinburgh Vein Study, one of the longest-running population studies on venous

health, found chronic venous insufficiency in 21.2 percent of men over 50, compared with just 12 percent of women in the same age range. After middle age, this lands harder on the men. The reason it stays under the radar is that men, generally speaking, don’t bring it up. We power through. We finish the round. Why this matters more than you’d think A meta-analysis published last September in the Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders pulled together 20 separate studies on chronic venous disease. Seventeen of them found a significant association between vein disease and at least one cardiovascular outcome: coronary artery disease, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, heart failure or cardiovascular mortality. Those findings showed that at the low end, patients with chronic venous disease were about 30 percent more likely to also have one of those cardiovascular conditions. At the high end, they were nearly four times more likely. That suggests chronic venous insufficiency is a signal worth paying attention to, especially for men who already carry cardiovascular risk factors. It’s

the kind of finding that should change how a guy in his 50s thinks about aching legs. What treatment looks like now The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions released its first comprehensive clinical guidelines for chronic venous disease in June 2025. The panel reviewed years of research and weighed how well different treatments actually worked for real patients. The headline finding: endovenous ablation is the answer, which is a minimally invasive procedure that has largely replaced the vein stripping surgeries some readers may remember from a generation ago. In the studies the panel looked at, patients felt better within about six weeks. A year out, most of them were still doing better than they had been before treatment, and serious complications were rare. That combination is why the panel issued one of its strongest recommendations. This shift matters more in a city like Augusta than people might realize. We are home to one of the largest medical workforces in the Southeast, with thousands of healthcare professionals working long

shifts on hard floors. We have a sizable population of military retirees, many of whom spent decades on their feet in the heat. We have an aging population that hasn’t slowed down on the golf course or the lake. These are exactly the groups where chronic venous insufficiency tends to surface, and exactly the groups most likely to push past the symptoms. The current evidence pushes back on the idea that aching legs are just part of getting older. When the symptoms are real and the imaging confirms a problem underneath, the case for waiting it out keeps getting harder to make. Thomas W. Wehmann, D.O., F.A.C.O.S., C.W.S., is a board-certified surgeon with The Vein Guys in Augusta, where he treats patients with vein disease. References 1. Eberhardt, R.T. &

Raffetto, J.D. (2005). Chronic Venous Insufficiency. Circulation, 111(18), 2398–2409. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/01. cir.0000164199.72440.08 2. Del Río-Solá, M.L., Cenizo-Revuelta, N., Saiz Viloria, L., Martin Pedrosa, M., & González-Fajardo, J.A. (2025). The cardiovascular impact of chronic venous disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders. https://www.jvsvenous.org/article/S2213333X(25)00145-3/fulltext 3. Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions. (2025). 2025 SCAI Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Chronic Venous Disease. Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions. https:// www.jscai.org/article/ S2772-9303(25)01171-8/ fulltext

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The Examiners I do: one of True! So You know what you those “big box” exactly when is need to find? stores. your big move?

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE ACROSS 1. How profit sometimes starts 4. Cardiac follower 10. Jr. commissioned naval officer 13. South American tuber 14. Venice bridge 15. Hip bones 16. Rocky peak 17. In view of 19. Thrombus 21. County in Ireland 22. Woods of local note 27. Broad silk necktie 31. Like Phinizy Swamp 32. Echolocation 33. CHOG charity partner 36. Money of Western Samoa 37. Stain with mud 38. Wander 40. Blacksmith’s workshop 42. Hebrew for “delight” 43. Formally charge with a crime 45. Private box in a theater 47. Sign in many yards 48. Famous burn doctor 49. Smaller shin bone 51. Dental prefix 52. Strengthen 56. Brass wind instrument 58. Lounge lazily 59. Rigidly moralistic 66. Male swan 67. On the ocean 68. White of the eye 69. Minimalist IV (abbrev.) 70. Liveliness 71. Came to the aid of 72. Evergreen tree

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DIRECTIONS: Every line, vertical and horizontal, and all nine 9-square boxes must each contain the numbers 1 though 9. Solution on page 14.

DOWN 1. Jugular ________ 2. Common intestinal bacteria 3. Fortune-telling cards 4. Russell St. school (abbrev.) 5. Aug. 2016 sports venue 6. Operated 7. Golfer Ernie 8. Like summer weather in Augusta 9. List type 10. Peyton’s little brother 11. 30-D group, for short 12. Droop downward 15. Annoying 18. Delete 20. Classic movie stn. 23. Top ____ 24. Skill 25. Christiania today 26. VA’s first name? 28. Nematocyst 29. Paddled 30. Mr. Reznor of 11-D

Check out our new reader contest on p. 10

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T G H T A E L N U N H O N Y E E T C Y Y U N E E E W R U L A O G E V D O A N O D O

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— Eric Hoffer

DIRECTIONS: Recreate a timeless nugget of wisdom by using the letters in each vertical column to fill the boxes above them. Once any letter is used, cross it out in the lower half of the puzzle. Letters may be used only once. Black squares indicate spaces between words, and words may extend onto a second line. Solution on page 14.

Use the letters provided at bottom to create words to solve the puzzle above. All the listed letters following #1 are the first letters of the various words; the letters following #2 are the second letters of each word, and so on. Try solving words with letter clues or numbers with minimal choices listed. A sample is shown. Solution on page 14.

E 1 2 1 2

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WORDS

Because I’m busy that weekend.

Not sure yet. Why?

Moving is such an ordeal.

by Dan Pearson

AUGUST 7, 2026

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5 8 7 1 2 4 9 3 6

1 4 9 3 6 5 7 2 8

6 2 3 9 7 8 4 1 5

AUGUST 7, 2026

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THEBESTMEDICINE ha... ha...

The

Advice Doctor

Joe: Uh no, somehow that has never come up. Moe: Well it’s true. I hunted elephants for the ivory. Joe: Why did you stop? Moe: The type of elephants they have in Africa have tusks that are very hard to remove. So I moved my business to Alabama ...where the Tuscaloosa.

Moe: My school has banned dating because two students were caught in a comwoman was sick all the time, but no doctor could ever find a single thing promising situation and a teacher had an wrong with her. She went doctor-shopping inappropriate relationship with a student. Joe: Man, you must really hate being constantly, looking for the medical genius who could finally tell her what was wrong. home schooled. Finally one doctor, after carefully reviewPlatypus walked into a bar. Duck tended ing her medical history and the long list bar. Platypus ordered drinks, ran tab. Evenof physicians she had consulted, looked tually left. Duck billed platypus. at her gravely and said, “I think you have hypochondria.” Moe: Have you seen the new Law & Or“Oh no, she said. “Not that too!” der spin-off about camping? Joe: No, what’s it called? A man walks into a bakery, points at one Moe: Law & Order: Criminal in Tent. of the sweet rolls in the display case and asks, “Is this gluten free?” “No,” says the baker. “You have to pay.” Moe: I’m tired of my chiropractor. Joe: What seems to be the problem? Moe: He’s always talking back to me. Moe: Did I ever tell you that I used to be a big game hunter in Africa?

Some poor woman fell off a cruise ship. Fortunately, rescuers got to her very quickly and pulled her into a boat. They asked her two questions: who are you, and what happened? “Eileen Dover,” she said. Everything in moderation. Including moderation.

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Dear Advice Doctor, I don’t know if I should be writing to you or the Parenthood columnist on page 2. I have a teenager problem. The issue is not with my children, of course. They are perfect angels. It’s always other people’s kids. In my case, my son has fallen in with a trouble-maker, and he is corrupting my formerly perfect offspring. Naturally, my son can’t see the negative influence this bad egg is having on him. Everyone else can, though. My question: should I address this problem through my son, or through the other child? — Striving to Restore Perfection Dear Striving, You raise an interesting point, one that seemingly has a different answer every year. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I’m sure you’ve noticed that there have been times when you didn’t have to specify bad egg. Bad was understood; bad was clearly implied by the word that followed it: egg. It isn’t that way anymore. Science no longer banishes eggs to the same despised dietary categories as Twinkies, pork rinds and greasy fried foods. How does it happen that a food like eggs is on the bad list one year and the next year gets a green light? The answer: science happens. Once upon a time, cholesterol was at the top of the Most Wanted list for culprits in heart disease. As an article on WebMD puts it, “after 25 years of study, it has become evident that cholesterol in food is not the culprit -- saturated fat has a much bigger effect on blood cholesterol. Full-fat dairy products and fatty meats are examples of foods that are loaded with saturated fat and which trigger the body to produce cholesterol.” So those changes in recommendations — this year something is ok, next year it isn’t — are actually good. They are signs of progress in our knowledge. Eggs are good sources of iron, vitamins, minerals, and protein, but not good sources of calories and fat. They’re hard to beat, nutrition-wise. Yes, they do have about two-thirds of the recommended daily limit on cholesterol. The American Heart Association says an egg a day is okay. Just go easy on other high-cholesterol foods on egg days. I hope this answers your question. Thanks for writing. Do you have a question for The Advice Doctor about health, life, love, personal relationships, career, raising children, or any other important topic? Send it to News@AugustaRx.com. Replies will be provided only in the Examiner.

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LOOK!... from page 1 the rear view mirror to the road ahead. When cameras rapidly move back and forth between two points, the image blurs. For people, that doesn’t happen when our eyes dart from one spot to another, courtesy of a feature called saccadic suppression. We don’t even notice it, but the brain turns off vision during saccades. Essentially, the brain freezes image perception at the split-second we leave Point A and doesn’t resume image processing until our eyes land at Point B. This happens constantly, as often as 3 to 4 times per second sometimes, but it takes place so rapidly — within 30 to 50 milliseconds — that we’re not even aware of it. (For comparison, something else we do constantly without noticing the temporary blindness that results — blinking — lasts some 100-150 milliseconds per blink.) As quick as each individual saccade is, when you add up all 150,000-200,000 of them each day, we’re spending nearly 10% of our waking life blind. Just as a passing note related to saccades, we rarely stop to think that when our eyes dart from this point to that point they do so in perfect synchronization, at least for most people. Somewhere between 2% and 4% of us have strabismus, a condition where the eyes don’t move uniformly and simultaneously. The massive amounts of data collected non-stop by our onboard cameras has to go somewhere to have any useful value, and that’s where the optic nerve comes in. It has a huge assignment: the retina sends the brain roughly 10 million separate bits of informa-

tion for immediate processing per second. That would probably fry the cable connecting a 4K TV, but the optic nerve can handle it. That cable, about the thickness of a wooden match, contains over 1 million wires (actually nerve fibers), plugging the eye directly into the brain. Among the vision-related chores the brain is responsible for (like it doesn’t have enough to do already) is stitching together the images our eyes feed it. Each eye, after all, views the world from a different angle. When these two slightly different film clips (not still images) arrive in the brain, they are instantly merged together in real time for a single seamless 3D presentation, a process called binocular fusion. But our eyes aren’t all about mechanics. They actually are indicators of emotion,

surprise, and attraction. Our pupils don’t dilate merely to let in more light; they open to indicate the aforementioned situations. In a way it’s technically inaccurate to say pupils dilate or contract. Like windows that have more or less glass exposed based on the position of curtains, the pupil just looks bigger or smaller based on whatever the iris is doing at any given moment. We think of the iris as the colored part of the eye, but that’s not always true: scientists say blue eyes have almost no pigment; their color comes from the same phenomenon that makes the sky blue, even though it’s composed of clear air. One of the more recent innovations in the world of security is iris scans. It may not be as amazing as fingerprints (of which every human has ten utterly unique versions), but there are no two identical irises on planet earth, not even among identical twins or even in our own head. Just behind the iris, the inside of the eye is filled with aqueous humor, a crystal-clear gel-like delivery system for oxygen, glucose, vitamins, amino acids and more to feed the lens and cornea. Aqueous humor is like a transparent bloodstream Aqueous humor is completely replaced roughly 16 times a day, about every hour and a half. Well, here we go again, cutting short yet another profile of one of our amazing senses. There’s just too much information! But by all means, read more whenever you can.

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