Monthly Archives: April 2014
236.WHAT IS AN ANTIBODY?
Bacteria are the most widespread creatures in the world. Everything we touch, every breath of air contains millions of them. About 80 per cent of all bacteria are harmless. A small percentage is actually useful to us, and a small group of them are harmful to human beings.
Since man is constantly taking in bacteria of all kinds, it is obvious that our body and these bacteria form a kind of “working” relationship. Our body supports colonies of bacteria and in turn these bacteria may perform useful functions, such as helping to decompose food.
235.WHAT IS A POLLEN COUNT?
During the “hay fever season,” newspapers in many cities publish the day’s pollen count: What is pollen, what does it have to do with hay fever, and what is a pollen count?
A person is said to have hay fever when he is sensitive to pollen and some other sum stances that are present in the air. Pollen is the reproductive element of plants and is contained in the flowers of most plants. Usually, it occurs as a fine dust or grains.
234.WHAT IS A CATARACT OF THE EYE?
You know what a “cataract” is in nature. It’s a great waterfall or downpouring of water. Now why should a certain kind of eye trouble also be called a “cataract?”
This is because in ancient times it was believed that this particular eye trouble was caused by an opaque film that came down like a cataract over the lens of the eye. A cataract of the eye is simply a cloudy or opaque discoloration within the lens of the eye. It may or may not interfere with vision. In fact, many people may have cataracts without knowing it.
