Indeed, Crabcakes! I am happy that you got it. I am sure that now you
realize how difficult the question was. As you see, the answer you
received, important as it is, still falls short of my exact interest.
Its author is aware of the informal notion of rapid WH, but has no
clearcut evidence to offer. Moreover he/she addresses the issue in a
different way, saliva, not skin properties.
I know CB's book and will look it up tomorrow, and check his papers.
"...and search for other authors who
have written on the topic."
I am afraid he/she means chimp research in general, not specific
papers on WH, but maybe we should check. The suggested information
source is the one I have already gone to (I think you can find the
question there, signed by my friend, remember?). Not a single answer
yet.
I am happy to offer you this question as a follow-up. May I suggest
that you send me the answer you got in full, if possible, as a
clarification request, so that we can both take our time and see how
to proceed via clarifications?
Luckily,I took notice of your message when I was checking my other
question - WNV - and saw that the update on WH had changed. I could
have missed it. I didn't get a Google Alerts note. I think I need some
information on the communication channels between Researcher and
Client. Kind regards, Wayworn |
Request for Question Clarification by
crabcakes-ga
on
29 Apr 2006 10:33 PDT
Oi Wayworn,
I have received permission to post the entire email I received. I
left off the researcher's name, for confidentiality. The attachement
she included was corrupt, but she has assured me she will resend it
next week. I shall post it then.:
"Thank you for writing - this is a very fascinating subject. I too
have heard accounts of wild chimpanzees healing from wounds very
quickly and speculation that this is due to robust immune systems. I
imagine that this is a factor since most of their systems have not
been influenced by antibiotics or other man-made medications.
Unfortunately, I am not aware of whether there is definite research to
support the role of chimpanzees' skin composition or hair as a
contributor to their healing.
I spoke with Dr. Virginia Landau, staff primatologist for the Jane
Goodall Institute regarding your research and she recommended the book
The Chimpanzees of the Tai Forest by Christophe Boesch. There is an
anecdote he includes in the book about a chimpanzee who was seriously
wounded only to show up a couple weeks later virtually healed! I have
attached a copy of that story. You may be interested in reading the
book and how it addresses mortality and injury in the wild chimpanzee
community. There were some interesting discussions on how community
members care for injured group members with wounds (p. 32, 248) based
on the severity of the wound. Though they do not exert the same
efforts for deceased chimpanzees, if a group member has a cut group
members will lick the wound and clear away any debris or insects.
Though speculation on my part, I would be interested in learning
whether the composition of the chimpanzee's saliva plays a role in the
healing process. I would be curious to know if extensive research
studies have been completed on cat and dog saliva or why humans often
seem to instinctively put a finger with a papercut in their mouth?
You may also wish to check with a local zoo veterinarian for
information on captive chimpanzees. A veterinarian school that
specializes in exotics, such as UC Davis may also be a good place to
inquire on whether there they have experience with or have documented
similar instances with captive chimpanzees' healing quickly from
injuries. You may also wish to look up articles on chimpanzee use of
medicinal plants. It is a new and extremely interesting field that
describes how chimpanzees and gorillas use different forest plants for
medicinal purposes, such as settling an upset stomach.
Finally, I would suggest searching the Wisconsin Primate Research
Center website. They have an online service called Primate Info Net
(PIN) that provides access to documents and links to relevant sites
about research in the field of primatology. You may wish to look up
scientific articles written by Boesch and search for other authors who
have written on the topic. JAMA or the Journal of Veterinary Medicine
may also contain articles on the immune system or skin that contain
comparative studies of non-human primates.
Good luck with your research and please feel welcome to write back
with any further questions!
Sincerely,
ChimpanZoo: Research, Education and Enrichment
A Program of the Jane Goodall Institute"
Regards, Crabcakes
|
Clarification of Question by
wayworn-ga
on
29 Apr 2006 20:18 PDT
Muito obrigado, Crabcakes! It was very kind of her to send you such a
thoughtful answer. It shows that you knew how to explain the problem.
I am sure that you also knew how to express your gratitude to her.
As a comment, I don't think the two conjectures (the immune idea and
her own idea on saliva) she describes are parcimonious enough. Not
impossible, but so far devoid of any supporting evidence. And her
point on antibiotics and other medicine doesn't look plausible.(much
too recent to have had any such role in our evolution; and if she
means it at the individual - not species - level, then people who have
not been on antiobiotics would be fast healers: unlikely). The present
excitement about the use of plants - you were able to find some news
on that yourself - is interesting and important but not central to my
point, as I am looking for differences between the WH processes. (In
fact if plants could explain ALL the difference, my idea would be
destroyed).But first, of course, I would have to be sure of the
fact,namely, that chimps are really faster than us. Anecdotal evidence
is welcome (particularly when it comes from a man like CB) but not
ideal. However, it has a cummulative effect: the more reliable
anecdotes you gather, the more convincing your point becomes.
All that to say that I would encourage you to keep searching, if it
is of interest to you. You have demonstrated that you know where to
go, and I simply don't have the time. By now you know the exact point
very well, so no need at all of any related issues. How do you feel
about that?
Please, tell me how I can communicate to you on the other question(EPB).
Sincerely, Wayworn
|
Clarification of Question by
wayworn-ga
on
16 May 2006 14:35 PDT
Oi Crabcakes, are you there? Wayworn
|
Request for Question Clarification by
crabcakes-ga
on
16 May 2006 14:38 PDT
Si Si!
I have found NADA so far. I am still looking and checking... and will
post if and when I find something! Thanks for checking!
Sinceramente, Crabcakes
|
Clarification of Question by
wayworn-ga
on
16 May 2006 16:26 PDT
Oi Crabcakes, nice to know that you are there.
Don't worry. Maybe only a few Vets could give us more than we have.
I have checked CB's famous book and it is as your kind respondent
described: very interesting and encouraging but not more than field
observation. I have come to believe that only a few Vets, as she/he
says, may have something more substantial. Can you try to get
something in that direction?
Turning now to an entirely different subject, we were wondering,
here at my business office (you will remember my two different
occupations), how many cities in Brazil have access to the Internet.
It is not a very important issue for us, but it would be nice if we
knew it in connection with an ongoing job here. We know of course that
all our large and middle size cities have Internet, and also most of
the small ones. We wonder how many of the smallest ones have not yet
been reached. I'm afraid the job to which this information is related
would not afford a 200.00 question, but it would be ok for 100.00. We
don't know if the information is available at any site, and it would
not make sense to have my people here spend hours and hours on a risky
search, given the proportions involved. Then I thought of you. Please
feel free to say that you are not interested. In case you are,
however, tell me, and I will make it a new question to you. Remember,
please, that we don't need anything else, except how many cities in
Brazil have access (maybe discriminating broadband as we say here,
from dialup; I miss the English word for "broadband" right now, but I
think you know what I mean)to the Internet. We don't need statistics
on usage, users, history, content, etc. Just coverage. What do you
say?
Wayworn
|
Request for Question Clarification by
crabcakes-ga
on
16 May 2006 16:37 PDT
Hello! I say YES! I'll work on it (Broadband question). I have NOT
given up on the chimp question though!
We say "broadband" here in the US as well, although "high speed" is
more commonly used among non-technical types.
Obrigato, Crabcakes
|
