echo of life 24

DISABLED PERSONS MAGAZINE PI/R24

echo życia

THE SUN

All colors come from the sun. And it does not have Any particular color, for it contains them all.

And the whole Earth is like a poem While the sun above represents the artist.

Whoever wants to paint the variegated world Let him never look straight up at the sun

Or he will lose the memory of things he has seen. Only burning tears will stay in his eyes.

Let him kneel down, lower his face to the grass, And look at light reflected by the ground.

There he will find everything we have lost: The stars and the roses, the dusks and the dawns.

Warsaw, 1943

Czesław Miłosz

1

The sages of the East were well before us to spread the message for the generations to come:

- Do not speak anything out unless you think it, refrain your-self from long-windedness, other-wise others around will lose their heart in relation to you. All this when life without people is actually no life in matter of truth.

Regardless of the ages passed, the meaning of it “has not expired” since mindless windiness – whether in pri-vate or via impudent public media – has become our everyday routine as if it was a nearly universal way of approach to everything, especially to this what we particularly do not cope with.

Torrents of words is what we tend to practise so as to deaden our own shortcomings, ignorance and in-consistency in given conduct. Then we lose something important on the way for long-windedness weakens our essential self-preservation whilst anything around us, anything we take part in, affects our psyche, the flow of life energy and our very condition of health.

A certain bad word “opens the doors to the land of problems”, prompts conflicts, then ruins relationships and health of any involved altogether.

Whereas health is a value more important than any other.

It is worthwhile then to attempt it to maintain any balance possible even when we happen to be making mistakes or when difficulties befall us.

This is the reason why we need to manage some proper distance to us ourselves as well as to the others what would allow for instance to verify schedules and related to it work that is measured by cyber degrees.

Hence it is time to find these hours and minutes for an ordinary walk, for preparing a wholesome meal or having it for a meeting with a friendly person.

In matter of fact it is not any of great events but still strengthens the sense of unity and reminds of … a smile which is the opening to turning to be fond of one-self, others and the world. It might come to happen that love would grow up out of it in some time given – the feeling that stands for happiness of a desired order, one that is based on cordiality, kindness and health-giving all in all.

Danuta Maria Roszkowska

Editor-in-chief :Danuta Maria Roszkowska

Editorial office cooperates with:Edyta Adamska

Maciej Bogdański Maria Borawska Anna Danilewicz Marek Dolecki Michał Iwańczuk Andrzej Jarosz Agnieszka Kierznowska-Rurarz Kazimierz Kozłowski Justyna Małaszkiewicz Radosław Roszkowski Renata Saniewska Aneta Stupak Anastazja Szachowicz Marcin Szachowicz Ewa Szarkowska Lucyna Szepiel Urszula Tarasewicz Anna Worowska Dorota Wysocka

Editor base:University of Diabetology

PSD OW Białystok

Editor address:Warszawska Street 23, 15-062 Białystok

tel.no. 85 741 57 01, tel./fax 85 732 99 74e-mail: [email protected]

www.echozycia.pl

The edition of the magazine

has been financed by the Na-

tional Rehabilitation Fund for

the Disabled Persons

We introduce reprints for didactic and educational purposes based on regulations

of the legislative articles 25, 26, 29, 33, and 49 in section 2 of copyright laws, and

related laws dated 4.02.1994.

(DzU* of 23.02.1994, no. 24, entry 83) and generally accepted editorial usages.

• JournalofLawsoftheRepublicofPoland

echo życia

echo życiaMAGAZYN OSÓB NIEPEŁNOSPRAWNYCH PI/R24

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A B O U T U S

C U R R E N T I S S U E

FOR THOSE WHO ARE CURIOUS OF THE WORLD

IT IS WORTHWILE TO KNOW

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

ANOTHER WORLD

OUR LIFE

4 Osteoporosis

5 Women in Poland are anxious about

osteoporosis but do not go for their checkups

6 Depression may befall anyone of us…

9 What is law and what is practice – psychiatric care

11 The sense of smell worsens throughout depression

12 Counting calories is not enough in order to slim down

13 The secret hides in the liver?

14 Unhealthy teeth and heart?

15 Hormonal replacement therapy

slows down development of coronary

atherosclerosis disease

16 The generation of asthmatics grows in number

17 Sometimes patients pay to opt for a doctor

Set up a company in Internet

18 What benefits come from employing the disabled?

20 Banks and the disabled

21 A Literature Nobel prize for a disabled poet

24 Salmonella

25 Let us do not blame genes for everything

34 The Gods of the Olympus

- Hephaistos

36 A story of some certain martyr

26 What do you smell of ?

28 Do you know what you eat?

30 Apitherapy

31 Figs

32 Sage

33 Geranium

38 Mummy’s boy or one lion-hearted?

40 Americanes past a tryout

41 The one I love is the one

who creates me

43 Unusual roof over the head

46 Stress and herbs

FEUILLETON

48 Equally Lacki as Ruski Suraż

3

echo życia CURRENT ISSUE

INVEST INTO YOUR BONESDO NOT LET BREAK YOURSELF!!!GET TO KNOW THE RISK FACTORS

OF OSTEOPOROSIS AND CURB THEM

echo życiaCURRENT ISSUE echo życia

4

It develops in the course of years, it does it as deceitfully as symptomlessly. It might be-fall at any age but more often than not at the elderly stages what takes place mainly in case of women who undergo menopause and men reaching their age past 65. The first clinical warning sign that is to indicate an advanced phase of the disease is a fracture. Osteoporosis. What to do to prevent oneself against it?

DO NOT BREAK DOWN! BE ROCK HARD!

OSTEOPOROSIS

In order to secure healthy bones one sho-uld take care of it throughout life long. The condition how strong they happen to be depends on nutrition and life-style that are led from the very early childhood. The for-mation of bones lasts as long as up to the age of 35 – it is then when they acquire their maximum density. Admittedly the process of regeneration never ends but with time it still tends to come into unbalance due to the damage of structures what becomes more and more difficult to be recovered.

Healthy dietThe prophylaxis of osteoporosis relies on

supplying adequate amounts of calcium. The osseous system is a very store of this element. Then the compound is the one that exacts hardness of bones and their strength against fractures. Nonetheless calcium is equally important to afford the proper functioning of other organs alike and any deficiency of it in the body system necessitates drawing it from bones. This is why it is worthwhile to be keeping provi-ding it in food intakes on a daily basis.

A rich and easily accessible source of cal-cium is milk and extracted from it produ-ce, as well as eggs, sardines, salmon, nuts, almonds and dried wild figs. As much as 1500 mg of calcium per day is what should assure healthy bones’ condition.

Likewise vitamin D can not be wanting. Actually it is the “catalyser” of calcium ab-sorption. Vitamin D can be found in butter, egg yolks, fatty fish and fish oil however basically it is produced in skin cells by the strength of sun light. Merely 15 minutes of staying in sun is as enough as to be certain

that the body system will generate the da-ily dose of it needed.

Balanced protein is another constituent in favour of accurate bone texture. The source of protein, as well as valuable vitamins, is fruit, vegetables and cereals. The same it is worthwhile to have them in mind for the reason that plentiful of animal products diet, especially of meat, divests the orga-nism of calcium by voiding it.

In order to maintain strong bones we have to refrain or at least reduce consumption of alcohol, tobacco, coffee and fizzy drinks.

.

Having a walk in aim of healthPhysical activity is one more factor that

serves healthy strong bones. Systematic and steady exercising of muscles, bones and joints stimulates the regeneration of the all osteoarticular system. Then it needs to be pointed that it is not about strenuous efforts to made. Instead, keeping fit in mo-derate a mode is not only more pleasurable but also more effective.

The best form of bone process stimulus seems to be walking. It should be subtly fa-ster than ordinary strolling. As good as it is jogging, dancing or more and more popu-lar Nordic walking. Swimming and biking is also freely advised in the respect. 30 mi-nutes of daily physical activity is what our bones are bound to reward in return.

Compiled by: Antonina Niekrasz


5

Women in Poland are anxious about osteoporosis

but do not go for their checkupsAs much as 80% of Polish woman at their age past 40 have

their anxieties about osteoporosis yet the entire three third of them have never examined their bone density in their life – fol-lows from the survey conducted by TNS OBOP.

Then the results reveal that 91% of females in Poland is aware that osteoporosis is a metabolic disease of bones which exposes to bone fractures.

Prof. Ewa Marcinowska-Suchowierska, the head of the Clinic of the Family Medicine of Internal and Metabolic Bone Diseases CMKP in Warsaw announced the fact that massive 20% of pa-tients who underwent a fracture of thigh bone died due to its complications within half a year whereas 50% of the deceases in concern take place one year past the incident.

- Persons who happen to experience such a fracture physically suffer by reason of pain and then psychically down to motor impairment. More than a half of the patients who went through a fracture of their neck of femur sense their quality of life to be deteriorated when one third in concern never recover their full independence and require on-going assistance. A fracture might be the first symptom of osteoporosis and most often tends to be one of wrist, forearm or vertebral bodies. Still it is already the moment when we pronounce an advanced phase since it exposes to another even more serious fracture of the Collum femoris – stressed prof. Marcinowska-Suchowierska adding that me-dical treatment is what delays development of osteoporosis – after five years the risk of fracture in the Collum femoris becomes lesser in 50%.

- According to WHO an individual risk of osteoporosis can be assessed ten years in advance what is possible by means of FRAX method. Apart from this there are other risk factors that are scrutinised among of which are age and sex, low body mass indication below 20, fractures of the closer part of the Collum femoris underwent by parents, fractures experienced past the age of 50, smoking, receiving glucocorticoids, rheumatoid arth-ritis and consuming alcohol.

Persons with individual risk of osteoporosis, so called RB-10 lower than 10% are recommended no more than healthy life style and improving their physical condition. Then high RB-10 over 20% already requires pharmacological approach. In turn moderate risk reading which is RB-10 between 10 and 20 re-lies on the volume of bone mass. The moment it is too scarce is when the therapy should be undertaken.

- Nonetheless we need to remember that irrespective of a given bone mass a fracture still exposes to another fracture. And this may take place again even when BMI is correct. This is the reason why pharma-cological treatment should be applied in case of all persons who under-went even a minor fracture of vertebral bodies, forearm or the Collum femoris – stated prof. Marcinowska-Suchowierska. The yearly rate of fractures in Poland alone amounts to 150 thousand solid.

PAP/Rynek Zdrowia

echo życiaCURRENT ISSUE

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Depression may befall anyone of us…„“Depression changes everything

in life, nothing remains the same as it used to be…” - Artur Marino

Depression does not select given individuals it af-fects. It is a serious disease that can strike anyone plaguing everything as if an epidemic.

It can equally cause suffer to persons who had experienced misery just as to those fulfilled pro-fessionally and wealthy that are named “people of success” irrespective of age, sex, education or so-cial status.

Likewise each person afflicted by this syndrome may go through it differently since there are di-stinct types of the condition such as seasonal, po-stnatal, depression than transpires in the course of climacterium, at the age advanced, throughout youth time or childhood.

A patient who suffers from depression is not able to manage it on his or her own. He or she needs medical assistance and the support of the closest. The crucial question then is precise diagnosis and applying an individualised systematic therapy.

These are rare occasions when depression is en-gendered by one cause only. In reality it is a combi-nation of various factors such as negative experien-ces, chronic acute diseases, genetic backgrounds, personality traits, living conditions, family rela-tionships as well as those at work structures.

All of them alike develop disorders of the basic processes in the biochemical field, then in the psy-chological and social ones altogether. Depressive illness is already recognised today to involve both psychic and physical symptoms jointly with their medical consequences. The latest clinical research results evident then that the key cause of depres-sion is the disorder of the circadian rhythm.

Out of adjustment rhythms may result in disor-ders of cycles of mood changes as well as ones of night rest and physical activity what all in one af-fects daily functioning of a patient. The persons in concern prove it so frequently that the anarchic bio-logical clock is assumed to be the pivotal symptom of their syndrome.

This is when the disorders of the circadian rhy-thms prevail all the more the deeper phase of de-pression turns to be. On the other hand then there are atypical cases of depression that are not engen-

dered by abovementioned causes ones of which produce none of typical symptoms.

.The most characteristic symptoms:-general bad quality of mood,-chronic sadness,-disinterestedness in what happens aro-

und,-unfounded anxieties that escalate in

face of given tasks or challenging situ-ations,

-sense of guilt and low self-esteem,-suicidal thoughts,-lack of appetite and rapid loss in we-

ight (less often gluttony and overweight),-sleep disturbances,-inability of concentration,-slackened conduct, abnormal getting ti-

red, running out of psychic and physical energies.

Ordinary changes of moods is certainly so-mething different when it takes anomalous intensity and long-lasting span of time. They may relapse and distress handling of difficul-


7

ties in the everyday life. In worst of possible cases it may lead to a suicide. Fortunately not all of the patients have tendencies of the kind.

It is not always in the way that a person who suf-fers from depression tends to have low mood or experiences inner emptiness. It instead can mani-fest in sleep disruptions, then the need for an ini-tiative or physical complaints for another example. Alike intensity of the disease may be each different depending on an individual case. Some of patients are not able to manage in everyday life while others muster their energies and try to function fairly normally.

The incidence of depression stands today for an immensely serious global health problem as it is 120 million people who suffer from it all over the world.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estima-tes that by 2020 depression will become the second in large-scale most frequent cause of disability (just after heart failure). It has been assessed that depres-sion affects as much as 5-10 percent of global po-pulation and then in one necessitates psychological and psychiatric assistance in respect. In Poland the proportion amounts to 10 percent what has been confirmed by the Panel of Depression Combat in the Ministry of Health. The average risk rate of de-pression is 10-20 percent and is somewhat higher in case of women than men just as is more likely in case of people who passed their age of 45 than the elderly (the typical age of the first episode preva-lence is 20-40).

The experts singled out several faces of the disease. The most frequent are:

Typical depression• Typical depression presents with all ge-

neral symptoms: chronic sadness, dispi-ritedness, critical fall in vitality, privation of appetite and related to it loss of body weight.

Depression combined with melancholic symptoms• Patients in respect often have to bear a

sense of guilt and their frame of being does not change notwithstanding given circumstances.

Anxiety depression• It manifests with a strong dominating

unrest and lowered perception of self-

-esteem all of which exacts views of the future in nothing but black colours. This is the type of depression that is found to run the established risk of suicide. Depression based on delusions

• This type of depression exaggerates low self-esteem and negative views of the future what takes form of own given il-lusions. The patients in the respect treat impartial signals as if they were addres-sed to them themselves and agonise over their conditions. Arrest depression

• It is a condition that is called depression stupor. The patients do not react and are not able to take any given action, they are incapable to any verbal communication. Their expression of the face is as if frozen and filled with anguish. They stop eating. This case of depression necessitates in-tensive therapy treatment. Hypochondriac depression

• It follows disturbed perceiving of one-’s own health condition. The persons in concern are convinced that they acquired a serious chronic disease. They quote complaints that are not to be confirmed in further diagnosis. Dysthymia

• The kind of the disease is understood as chronically low standing of mood for more than two years long. Patients prove sadness for most the time, are constantly tired and tend to have a sense that they are not able to manage life. The symp-toms do not qualify to the very episodes of depression but still inflict patients with torment.

Masked depression• These are depression syndromes that are

dominated by one or two typical symp-toms. The “masks” are most often several types of pain complaints, sleep disorders, anorexia problems or periodical abuse of alcohol.

Atypical depression (abnormal type)• It is such a case of depression when speci-

fic “reversed” symptoms defy the typical

echo życia

8

course of the disease. The main difference which stands out is boosted appetite what is reflected in overeating and excessive sle-epiness. Then the very characteristic is re-lenting of the symptoms after midday or at the evening and then arising of sleep disor-ders in the second half of the night. .

Winter depression• Seasonal mood disorders are mainly cau-

sed by the deficiency of light during the au-tumn-winter time. The typical symptoms in this case are excessive somnolence, noted decline in vitality, increased appetite for carbohydrates and gaining in body mass.Postnatal depression (baby blues)

• It is a condition that is prompted by fluctu-ations of hormones during pregnancy pe-riod and immeasurable responsibility for the baby after the delivery. The key symp-toms are distressing sense of being a bad mother and constant worrying about he-alth of the baby. Depression in children and youth

• Apart from the typical depression symp-toms such as apathy, disordered concen-tration or attempts of suicide, laziness and aggression can also prove depression in children and youth. In children aged 6-12 depression can manifest in their continual complaining about physical discomforts. Children at school age in turn may prove abnormal irritation moods and dispropor-tionate activity what is often mistaken with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

www.forumprzeciwdepresji.pl

echo życiaCURRENT ISSUE

„There is no rehearsals in life, just show” – Marianne Faithfull

9

What is law and what practice-psychiatric care

The wanting financing, stereotypes and lacking social edu-cation are in the opinion of experts the principal problems on the way to realisation of the National Program for Men-

tal Health.This conclusion was relevant to the petition addressed to

the president, prime minister and the minister of health by the Coalition for Implementing of the National Program for

Mental Health.The circles of psychiatrists submitted the letter to appeal for “the support in the name of the idea that people who suffer from somatic and mental disorders should be treated equ-

ally in regard to financial funds allocated for the health care in Poland”. There they draw attention to the focal problem that psychiatric health care can not be applied marginally

or have a form of emergency interventions.The National Program for Mental Health was accepted in December 2010. It is intended to take it course for 2011-

2015.During a debate in the chancellery of the prime minister the

part of which took psychologists, psychiatrists, Patients’ Rights Advocate, Polish Ombudsman, representatives of the Ministry of Health and National Health Fund, the un-der-secretary of Health Ministry Andrzej Włodarczyk dec-lared further broad-scale discussions over the execution of the Program. In turn NFZ is to revise financing of medical services in the psychiatric wards. As specialists pointed it

many of them are being closed up since they are unprofita-ble.

Elżbieta Radziszewska, the Government Proxy delegated to the concern of equal treatment pointed, that the program itself is excellent whereas the question is how to render law to be everyday practice all in order to reach an individual

person given.A mentally ill person who lives in Poland still can not expect to

receive professional up-to-date health care just as it should be like in Germany for instance. We are well behind in tens of years –

she said.Then the psychiatrists stressed that it is not only the issue of the insufficient fund providing but also of exacting proper

using of the means in the routine. Education is needed likewise, what has to engage psychia-trists themselves altogether since they tend to opt for the

short-cut way of isolating people in huge hospitals for the mental-disturbed. Then when far better therapy results are achieved in smaller psychiatric centres what is meant to be followed with support and ongoing therapy in given parti-

cular closest environment.


echo życia ABOUT US

10

The sense of smell worsens throughout depression

During depression some part of the bra-in area that accounts for the reception of smells becomes lesser and lesser – informs the “New Scientist”.

Depression, schizophrenia or autumn--winter depression impairs sensing smells. Scientists from Drezno University carried out experiments subjecting 21 persons who suffered from depression administering them a substance of somewhat weak smell concentration of which was gradually au-gmented. Then these persons had also their olfactory bulb examined by the use of nuc-lear magnetic resonance technique.

The afflicted by depression individuals did not detect smells like people who were not affected by the syndrome whereas al-together depression stayed in strict relation to diminishing of the olfactory bulb in 15% on average the size of which proved to be dependent on the depression development. Anti-depressant medicines did not have any effect in the respect.

Then the volume of the olfactory bulb pro-bably corresponds to the process of neuro-genesis which is generating of neurons. De-pression brakes this function in hippocam-pus brain field for instance since it reduces the neutrotrophic factor needed.

In opinion of the research executive, Tho-mas Hummel, monitoring of the olfactory bulb can serve an objective assessment of depression medical treatment.

The Source: Rynek Zdrowia

11

echo życiaABOUT US

Counting calories is not enough in order to slim down

It takes far more than calculating consumed calories so as to lose some body mass and prevent from overweight or obesity. First of all fattening dishes sho-uld be ruled out of the diet – suggest the latest research results published on the pages of “The New England Journal of Medicine”.

- It is many years now when it is generally accepted that one can eat any-thing but in moderate shares. Then it is also recommended to avoid fatty pro-ducts (especially of animal source) and control intakes of calories. – However it is not the best solution in concerne - states the leading author of the stu-dies, dr Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and epidemiologist from the Harvard School of Public Health. In his opinion the most important is what we eat rather than amounts of calories to be counted alone.

In the view of it the scientist quotes the results of his research that were substantiated in the course of 12 to 20 years and involves 120 thousand subjects who were the workers of the American Health Care and took part in three sessions of the studies. It was what proved that physical activity is also essential in the respect. As far as the subjects tended to gain in weight half a kilogram every single year, that is 10kg within the twenty years, the ones who regularly exercised sport did it in 50% less.

- Nonetheless physical activity is not the only answer in the face of putting up body weight. The up-to-date findings suggest that diet is more critical.

-The persons who are fairly active but have a propensity for neglecting eating patterns are still likely to gain in their mass - forewarns the co-exe-cutive of the research, dr Walter Wiolett from the Harvard School of Public Health.

The conclusions prove that chips are most fattening ever. The in-dividuals who often had this cooking put up 1,5 kg after the given following 4 years. Then crisps turned out to be half as less heavy as prompted only 0,7kg in gain of the mass. Following the relevant facts sweet beverages and meat goods had their influence of only 0,5 kg of body mass gaining within the four years of the study.

Then boiled potatoes, sweets and deserts were found to be less fatte-ning in 50%. Frozen food products, juices made out of fresh fruit and butter exacted putting up weight only 150 grams as much within the span of the four years. Vegetables do not fatten up at all. Hence they are most effective in reducing body weight. Research findings gathe-red throughout a Nurses’ Health Study show that the persons who successfully slimmed down consumed three times more vegetables.

The best slimming results then were achieved by persons who ate more yoghurts and nuts including even peanut butter. Nuts present with numerous beneficial vegetable oils whereas peanut butter adds up to slimming since it exacts a sense of satiety. The fairly surprising fact is that that milk (whether full-cream or low-fat) has any bearing on neither fattening nor slimming.

In turn the most disadvantageous effect on metabolism have refined carbohydrates that are drained of dietary fibre. They are ones that can be found in white bread, cakes, white rice, cornflakes and popcorn and cause digestion slowdown and fattening as a result.

The Source: PAP/Rynek Zdrowia


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The secret hides in the liver?

- The receptor that is located in the hepatic portal vein is co-responsible for increased appetite. Curbing its activity then may help us to be more effective in fighting with obesity - conceded a Portuguese researcher who currently works in the USA.Headed by the dr Albino Oliveiro Maia panel of experts from an American university in Duke proved that delimiting the activity of the receptor in the hepatic portal vein is the key to obesity combat. Once amplified amounts of glucose in blood are detected the receptor sends signals to brain to prompt stimulating of yearning for food – follows from the research.

The findings of dr Oliveiro Maia and his associates confirmed that heightened quantities of glucose in blood is recorded in liver and reported to the brain that generates more dopamine, so called hormone of happiness. This way of communication between the organs sets off appetite to build up.

- A few sessions of experiments carried out on mice established the fact that reducing the activity of the receptor would hold back obesity without a necessity of strict diet to be employed. Similar results are expected in pe-ople. Altogether there are currently attempts undertaken to formulate an agent that would repress the transmission of information which informs the brain of given glucose upsurges - announced dr Oliveiro Maia. In line with the scientist this new discovery will significantly relieve slimming therapies while especially those that require surgical li-posuction treatments.

The Source: PAP/Rynek Zdrowia

There are more the obese than the undernourishedToday in the world there are more obese persons than undernourished people whereas the latter

increase in number as a result of the aggravating food crisis - forewarns the International Red Cross Federation. According to official figures in 2010 there were globally 1,5 billion of the obese and 925 million of the undernourished. 178 million of children by their age of 5 suffer from growth disorders due to privation of food and the half of deceases who do not reach their age of 2 results from mothers’ undernourishment during pregnancy.

- In the view of the fact that the mechanism of free market brought on the situation when 15% of world population starves and 20% is overweight we conclude that there must have been something wrong on the way - summed up the general secretary of the Federation Bekele Geleta. The Branch Director of the Federation in Asia and Pacific area Jagan Chapagain perceives these statistics to be “a scandal of double edge”. During a conference in Delhi he stres-sed that “excess of food today kills more people than famine does”. In his opinion the problem in the respect is not deficiency of food but unscrupulous distribution and high prices.

The prices of food products in 2011 around the world rose what instilled anxieties of another food crisis after the one in 2008 which prompted riots in several countries.

Then lack of food takes place nonuniformly regarding men and women since 60% of the undernourished are females whereas in some countries the risk of death down to under-nourishment in girls is two times higher than in boys.

The Source: PAP

13

echo życiaABOUT US

Unhealthy teeth and heart?Specialists alarm that tooth decay and parodontium is not a health problem of the

oral cavity alone. Unhealthy teeth and gums unfavourably affect the entire body sys-tem. In turn cardiologists point relationship between cardio-vascular diseases and

parodontium disorders.As much as over 40% of the Polish at their age from 65 to 74 have not their own teeth anymore whereas it is 1,5% of aged from 35-44 who have not a single one own tooth.

In this older age group the number of the toothless increased by 10 percent since 1998 - warn out the experts.

- Aged between 35-44 professionally active Polish have on average 25 of their own teeth. City residents then typically have as much as two more teeth than the inhabitants of villages. In turn the Polish aged between 65-74generally have 6,6 their own teeth - recounted a coordi-nator of the program “Monitoring of the Oral Cavity Health”, prof. Maria Wierzbicka during the conference “Stomatology 2011” organised by the Chamber of Physicists and Dentists.

Then prof. Renata Górska, a national consultant on periodontology, specifies that there is a considerable correlation between parodontium disorders and cardio-vascu-lar diseases.

This correlation is also approved by a cardiologist prof. Beata Wożakowska-Kapłon from Świetokrzyskie Cardiology Centre. – The very same bacteria which colonise the oral cavity are found in atherosclerotic plagues – explains the professor.

She quotes a study in concern that was conducted on 112 subjects (aged averagely 53) who underwent a coronary attack. It revealed that 30% of them were toothless while 41% had their parodontium disorders well advanced.

.- None of the persons involved had their oral cavity in good or any normal condition while the most progressed arteriosclerosis was confirmed in the toothless – said prof. Wożakowska--Kapłon. Her opinion is that the correlation between parodontium disorders and cardio-vascu-lar diseases is almost certain. – We are only awaiting a scientific affirmation that the process can be reversed what means the question whether we can have bearing on the treatments of cardio-vascular diseases managing parodontium in first place.

The Source: PAP

14


Hormonal replacement therapyslows down development of coronary

atherosclerosis diseaseIschemic heart disease is far more seldom found in women than it is in men.

Though the reason of this is assumed to be the protective female sexual hor-mones the mechanism of which is still beyond scientific explanations.

Then the beneficial role of the hormones is seen to be epidemiologically reversed in case of elderly women who generate them in greatly less amo-unts what adds up to severity of the disease in concern. It would seem that receiving them by women throughout their menopause could work against this negative tendency nonetheless applying hormonal replacement therapy arouses many controversies.

The reason of it is that the latest research results did not prove any substan-tially advantageous effect of hormonal replacement therapy in elderly women regarding cardiovascular diseases. Therefore the aim of the multi-centre pro-spective Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE)organized by the American National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute was an analysis of the relationship between the moment of introducing hormonal replacement thera-py and a given severity of ischemic heart disease the latter of which was evalu-ated by the technique of angiography that visualises blood vessels and detects cardiovascular events in women during their menopause*. The authors parti-cularly scrutinised the age of the patients and the time when exactly hormonal replacement therapy started.

At least 70% of stricture in coronary arteries was assumed to be a material lesion. Cardiovascular events then were viewed as: mortality due to disorders of the cardiovascular system, infarction, heart insufficiency and brain stroke.

The researchers analysed 654 cases of women throughout their menopause. It was what followed previous assessments of menopause and its cause (whe-ther it was natural and attributable to aging or prompted by removing of the genital organs), applying of hormonal replacement therapy with particular emphasis on age and starting point of the therapy as well as tests of the coro-nary arteries. The qualified patients were monitored for 6 years.

The study revealed that women who ever before were subjected to hor-monal replacement therapy considerably less often acquired strictures of co-ronary arteries than women who were never treated by this method. What is more women who were aged before their 55 and had their natural menopause proved after their hormonal replacement therapy lower predictors of periphe-ry ischemia condition in comparison to women who did not undertake such a therapy.

Then introducing hormonal replacement therapy to women past their 55 did not exact any protecting influence on their condition of coronary arteries whereas in case of women who had their natural menopause it reduced the number of cardiovascular events.

Elaborated by: Editorial Team

15

echo życia

The generation of asthmatics

grows in number

- Late diagnosis of allergies and overly frequent ad-ministering antibiotics to children is the cause that an enormous number of asthmatics is bound to arise in Poland - forewarns prof. Bolesław Samoliński, a vo-ivodeship allergy consultant in Masovia.

The population of patients who suffer from aller-gies in Poland is one of the largest in the world. Al-lergic problems are a concern of 30% children and nearly a half of the adults. Allergies are the most common cause that prompts diseases in children and adults before their 40. It figures that within the years coming not only the number of allergy suffe-rers will increase but also the number of asthmatics altogether. In Poland more and more often allergy symptoms are observed during autumn. Persons who prove these warning signs are much likely to become asthmatic in due time.

In Poland some about five million persons acquired asthma whereas a half of them is not awa-re of it. Some about nine million suffer from aller-gic rhinitis of various grounds. Some about three million are afflicted by allergic eczema. – Every single Polish should consult a specialist regularly every year – says prof. Bolesław Samoliński.

- Allergies that are recognised early enough and properly treated can be followed by utterly normal everyday life – patients do not prove symptoms, can freely study and learn, do not necessitate any medical care in respect. In situation when incidence of allergies spreads appropriate diagnostics and medicinal mana-gement is definitely essential. Then most of us belit-tles congested nose, recurring hay fever and does not seek professional help. Again every single Polish should consult a specialist every year. Then an allergologist is one of the least frequently consulted experts, especially by adults patients. It is only 5% patients yearly who search for help from this specialisation doctor.

W Within last year 300 thousand new allergic patients came to light whereas only 30 specialists in the field. The problem is not a question of personnel alone. Although the existing practitioners steadily

improve their competences by way of trainings it is not many of them who are eager to attend atypical allergy forms and then too few patients undertake immunotherapy.

In the opinion of prof. Samoliński a very disqu-ieting practice is overusing antibiotics and anti-in-flammatory medicines in the course of allergy treat-ments. – This kind of patients do not require it and are even not recommended – points the professor.

What follows from a research study that concer-ned children and was carried out by the Prophylaxis Institute of Environmental and Allergic Hazards in the Warsaw Medicine Academy is the fact that 60% of the subjects were treated with antibiotic therapy as soon as at their age of one and 80 % at their age from one to three.

– There are not any epidemiological data that wo-uld reason such a common employing of the above-mentioned drugs. Administering antibiotics to chil-dren who do not develop fever but only have a cold is an evident therapeutic mistake – stresses prof. Samo-liński. In line with the professor applying antibiotic therapy in early aged children as well as drugs that contain paracetamol is what adds to the incidence of asthma and allergic rhinitis.

In opinion of allergologists an implementation of an all-Poland project needs to be considered in aim to advance general awareness of the asthma problem in our country since the disease is not a concern of adults only. A good solution in respect – in accord with the specialists – would be rendering the action in cooperation with school inspectorates.

The Source: Rynek Zdrowia

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echo życia IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Sometimes patients pay to opt for a doctor

Health insurance gives each one patient the right to change a given general practitio-

ner with no consequences imposed however the action can not take place more than two times within a year.

Then third and any consecutive replacement of a GP is charged with the obligatory fee of 80 złotych. It is the reason why patients, regardless of owned health insurance, should control frequency of such undertakings – informs Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.

Any patient who holds a health insurance is entitled to choose one’s own primary care practitioner from among doctors who are covered with this kind of public finance. Name-ly those who are contracted by National Health Fund (NFZ), for instance ones who run individual medicinal practice or are employed in the NFZ health centres.

The fee is not demandable in the situation when the replacement is necessitated by moving a patient’s place of living or when a given doctor ceased to serve the practice (for example due to closing down a given medical centre) as well as altogether when the change is prompted by reasons that are not dependent on patient’s will.

The Source: Gazeta Prawna

Set up a company in Internet “E-business without barriers” is a training program that is being put into practice by

Allegro Academy jointly with Integration Foundation and is one that is addressed to the disabled. It is intended to provide the concerned with the knowledge how to establish a

firm in Internet and be successful in the field.The course classes are going to be held cyclically in form of two-day workshops combi-ned with a lecture curriculum. The aim of the undertaking is equalling of opportunities in the area of e-business and eliminating all any barriers that much too often are to be

faced by the disabled.The partakers of the instruction agenda have their individual computer stations as well as special software ada-pted that enable using of the Allegro portal

online. Altogether the classes are guided by relevant professional

tutors. “E-business without

barriers” is not the only one training venture Allegro Academy of-

fers. The website www.akademia.allegro.pl

presents with a variety of training courses that are directed to this or another group of rece-

ivers given.We do encourage to

join it in!

17

echo życiaIMPORTANT INFORMATION

What benefits come from employing the disabled?

There are still too few employers in Poland who are disposed to have their personnel being disabled. This is what very often follows from ordinary ignorance of people and their habitual stereotypes within societies. Then when the disabled persons not only work more effectively as such but also they are those whose service brings calculable gains to the very their bosses.

In the West situation is of a far better standing where every other disabled individual has a job whereas in contrast in Poland it is every fifth. The employers in our country must lack any imagination and elementary understanding of the fact that engaging the disabled into work for them is sheer profit while instead they sign up employees of much lower qualifications what in end rebounds in a given productivity and company finance running. An insufficiently competent employee hinders company operation and therefore is made redundant over time. Consequently the process of recruitment is prolonged and entails further costs an employer has to bear.

Instead of wasting so valuable time for numerous personnel recruitments it is worthwhile to employ a professional on the very threshold even if it was to be a disabled person. Here are the benefits that can be secured as a result of employing the disabled:

Equipment cost reimbursement of a post – an employer who provides work for a disabled in-dividual for more than 36 months (what must be preceded by a contract signed up with a starost for the cost can not be reimbursed before the day of signing up the contract) is entitled to apply for a maximum 15-foldness of an average salary.

Cost reimbursement of position adapting - an employer who provides work for a disabled in-dividual for more than 36 months may be refunded costs that were directed for adapting new or existing ones posts (applicably to a given degree of disability). The reimbursement may for exam-ple involve costs that were consumed due to adapting given facilities as well as employing assi-stants in concern of the disabled. An employer who is to claim the abovementioned reimbursing has to apply in writing to a starost who is competent in respect of a given place of employment.

Grants for salaries of disabled workers – accrue to an employer who runs a safeguard job com-pany, to an employer who employs at least 25 fulltime workers providing at least 6% of positions to the disabled or an employer who employs less than 25 workers. Then there mustn’t be any financial arrears the State Fund for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities is due. Company owners receive grants on behalf of workers that are listed in the registry of employed disabled persons that is administrated by the Fund and is based on Universal Electronic System for Re-gistration of the Population numbers, VAT identification numbers and email information data; then on behalf of disabled persons who are not untitled to retirement. The amount of a monthly grant should not go over a monthly salary of a disabled individual.

Reimbursement of ZUS social insurance contributions – an employer is meant to fill in an account declaration with a relevant code and amounts of insurance that are financed by PFRON or state budget what relieves a given employer from paying them to ZUS by himself. It equally applies to safeguard job companies and employers who employ at least 25 fulltime workers and provide at least 6% of positions to the disabled.

Reliefs for payments rendered to PFRON – employers who are not able to provide at least 6% of positions to the disabled are obliged to render compulsory payments to PFRON. Then employ-ers who manage to provide the 6% of positions to disabled are relieved from this responsibility. However employers who employ persons with particularly serious syndromes which hamper fulfilling given duties may reckon on reducing of the mandatory 6%. Further more if wanting employers buy services (exclusive of trade) or commodities from an employer who employs at least 25 workers, including at least 10% persons with moderate or significant degree of disability, acquire the right of reduced payments they have to render to the Fund.

Training session for the disabled organised by employer – upon application of an employer PFRON may refund the cost of training for disabled workers. The reimbursement is executed by a starost according to the terms and amounts that had been specified in a contract.

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In view of that there is a great deal of benefits that come from employing the disabled whereas some official information in the field needs to be ascertained in order to recruit a professional worker and stabilise fluctuation of personnel thereby.

The Source: Money.pl

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echo życiaIMPORTANT INFORMATION

Banks and the disabledIn Poland every fourth person does not have one-

’s own bank account. The situation is worse only in Romania and Bulgaria. The largest group among the persons who do not use banking services, namely the unemployed, the elderly and the low-earning, are the disabled.

In most countries people who do not hold a bank ac-count face considerable difficulties to function within a society. They are not able to receive their salaries, pen-sions, or can not legally hire an accommodation. Pay-ment card (a single person tends to have few of them) is an indispensable daily basis means what for instance allows for routine paying for the bills solely by internet.

The situation in Poland is different. Pensions are deli-vered by a postman whereas at the end of every month the very post offices have to deal with floods of people who stand in long queues in order to pay a few or even more bills. Every single transaction of the kind is char-ged with the fee of 2,5 złotych. Bills are also paid at the cash-desks in the shops and supermarkets as well as in numerous in Poland special cash branches. All alike if they do shopping via internet they opt for cash on deli-very instead of bank account transfer.

Surveys confirm it that many Polish still prefer to keep their money at home rather than in bank since they find it to be safest. When financial problems arise they choose to draw highly rated loans in credit com-panies rather than in banks. – Poland ranks one of the latest positions among the European countries as regards using bank services per capita – says Adam Tochmański, the head of NBP Payment System Department.

– In view of low pensions and humble means for living many disabled people reason that setting up a bank acco-unt is simply useless and in consequence they might only lose. – Even if they had their pensions transferred into account they still would go to the bank and withdraw all owned. – Then is there any point to be paying bank acco-unt fee every month? – they ask the question. – When a pension amounts to 600 złotych every single złoty counts –they comment.

There are more anxieties in the respect. In line with prof. Dominika Maison from Warsaw University who carried out a study on financial exclusion for NBP some people are afraid of new technologies and do not trust financial institutions. They also fear internet thefts by hackers or incidents at cash dispensers down to losing a card or PIN code.

Even if the disabled happen to set up a bank account they still have to face difficulties in or-der to be approved for a credit..

In spite of the fact that employment rates of the disabled have increased within the two last years by 68 thousand considerable share of them – 76% at their productive age – support themselves on pensions, then other social benefits or thanks to their families. Regrettably the majority of disabled persons is paid poor salaries, most often minimal wages. It is the reason why they have limited ac-cess to bank credits, for instance those aimed for a car purchase, a buy of a flat or even for a piece of electronic appliances. In practice they are often refused credits for low credit capacity estimated by banks. In addition ill and disabled persons are assumed to stand a group of high risk and simply might not be able to pay off their credits.

The administrators of the Union of Polish Banks are aware of the challenging situation of the disa-bled who earn low salaries and therefore stand low credit capacity.

– There are more and more banks which discern the needs of clients who have health problems and are limited by them – states Krzysztof Pietraszkie-wicz, the chairman of the Union of Polish Banks.

- Some banks have their special offers in the con-cern – for example the Post Office Bank in coope-ration with ZUS already provide services to the persons who generate low incomes. We both private and public institutions should join forces so as to find financial solutions to supply reduced prices of payment and settlement transactions in aid of the disabled. In my opinion a mutual agreement is ne-eded in relation to it.

At present banks build approach driveways and render procedures to be commonly simpler as well as some of them stage trainings of their person-nel to instruct them how to attend the disabled. Admittedly it is not all banks which make these


20

efforts but some number of them do try to afford their institutions to be ones friendly to the disabled. For example in aim of this Bank City Handlowy and Bank Zachodni WBK began teamwork and sessions of con-sultations with the Integration association the latter of which conducted several au-dits in order to direct banks what is to be improved in which branches. As a result of the improvements Bank Citi Handlowy has turned to be more and more accessible to the disabled clients. Today the bank is the leader in providing with cash dispensers for the blind and partially sighted (Bank Zachodni WBK adjusts their cash points likewise).

Then modernising of cash machines into touchscreen ones is as expensive as the pri-ce of a good car. Such an accommodating requires fixing of an appropriate numerical panel on the screen and installing an addi-tional software for the blind which would “activate” all the functions of a cash dispen-ser any others use and then would display given information in the form of sound. Adapting of cash points for the wheel-cha-ired is still more difficult since they neces-sitate lower position built in the wall. Then the machines have to be placed as optimally as could serve any other users. If they hap-pen to be positioned too low both healthy persons as the ones who suffer from spine complaints would be exposed to injuries. In theory the only solution in support of the wheel-chaired would be extra cash machi-nes next to standard ones while then it is so immeasurably costly.

Some banks introduce adjustments be-fore no prior consultations with relevant organisations that attend the disabled and have the best achievable knowledge in the field. Therefore there are so many mistakes made on the way that the bank posts are far less accessible than it had been planned.

The Source: Integracja

A Literature Nobel prizefor a disabled poet

Tomas Tranströmerhonoured by

the Royal SwedishAcademy of Sciences

In compliance with the tra-dition of one hundred years, punctually at 13 pm, the doors of the Swedish Academy were laid open and the established secretary of the Academy announced the name of the this year’s Nobel laureate. – By way of his laconic and vivid re-flections he is the person who gives us a fresh insight into the reality – with this line the Academy contends the cho-ice of the selection of the new Noble’s winner. The audience just as the attending journalists applauded the pronounce-ment with joy and standing ovations.

Tomas Tranströmer is a writer, poet and literature trans-lator. What he translated among others were poems of Czesław Miłosz. He is one of the most illustrious modern poets. He is an author of poems rendered by him trans-lated into several dozen languages. The most remarkable poem collections of his are: The Great Enigma, Sounds and Traces, The Baltic Sea, In a Chamber of Mirrors, For the Alive and the Dead. His writings were compared to those of Cyprian Norwid. He started to write his poems at his age of 13 whereas at the age of 23 he managed to publish his first volume. In 1996 he was the only one rival Nobel prize candidate in front of Wisława Szymborska.

Tomas Tranströmer was born on 15.04.1931. He gradu-ated the faculties of psychology and music. He worked as a psychologist in prisons and at some of workplaces. Presen-tly he lives in a tiny town Vaesteras, if not in Stockholm. In 1990 Tranströmer experienced a brain stroke after which he has been partly paralysed. To this day the writer has to face and challenge the end results of the haemorrhage, he needs to communicate with sign expressions and gestures. Then, defying his disability, he still comes to meetings with his readers. He is a laureate of the Nordic Literature Board Award for the For the Alive and the Dead.

There have been published eight volumes of his poems in Poland: The Deleted World, For the Alive and the Dead, My foreword to Silence, Museum of Butterflies, Sorrow Gondo-la, Late autumn Labyrinth, Blue House and An Overheard Horizon.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

21

Salmonella typhosa:a multiimmune bacteriathat spreads in Europe

Bacterial immunity against antibiotics has been a disturbing phenomenon for some time now. Recently, the French Institute of Pasteur jointly with the National Medic Monitoring Institute and the National Institute of Agro-nomical Studies, revealed that there had been inappropriate use of antibiotics that were ap-plied in husbandry what effected some stra-ins of salmonella bacteria to become immune to nearly all types of antibiotics. A probability of pandemic emerged.

In the course of a broad study, researchers from the Institute of Pasteur, INSV, and INRA, observed an abrupt and alarming prevalence of salmonella bacteria that is immune to almost all types of antibiotics. Then mainly birds are the transmitters of the microorganism. Existence of bacteria called Salmonella kentucky was disco-vered as early as in 2002 when some small num-ber of travellers returned from Egypt, Kenya, and Tanzania. The bacteria proved immunity to several types of antibiotics, including fluoro-quinolones that are the key therapy agents in treatments of severe salmonellosis. Then this bacteria is what often prompts food poisoning in people.

The collected epidemiological data enabled researchers to monitor the chronology of this bacteria outbreak in real-time mode, state the experts from the Institute of Pasteur. Then what an outbreak! Between 2002 and 2008 sanitary supervision services recorded five hundred ca-ses in France, Great Britain and Denmark. Be-tween 2009 and 2010 in France alone there were 270 cases! 10% of patients did not refer to tra-velling abroad France.

Most probably it is the way how the bacteria reached Europe and multiplied the risk of in-fecting poultry in massive a scale, points the Institute of Pasteur.

Then many types of immunity seem to cumu-late in one bacteria strain, the mentioned Sal-monella kentucky.

In the beginning of the nineties of the 20th century one DNA fragment which contained immunity genes that answered for six mole-cules integrated with a chromosome of Salmo-

nella kentucky. A few years later further mutation produced immunity to the anti-biotics that are based on quinolones and then within more ten years to ones based on fluorquinolones.

This is an accumulation of all possible immunity types in one only strain of bac-teria the phenomenon of which may be the cause of the today pandemic, conclu-de the specialists.

The latest epidemic may stay in rela-tion to spreading of the bacteria in Africa where poultry is intensively fed with an-tibiotics. The research results then indica-te how important is the role of microbio-logical monitoring especially in the lands of the South. Also the findings remind of the risk of food poisoning human race runs by reason of unrestricted applying of antibiotics that add to generating and spreading of immunity genes.

The Source: Biomedical

echo życia

22

Let us do not blame genes for everything

The latest scientific findings suggest that a revolution in the field of eating patterns and life-style models may hold back ac-tivation of the genes that are responsible for cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and some cancers. The target diet ef-fects can be achieved as soon as within the first few months of practice.

- We should stop blaming genes that we acquire diabetes, are overweight or prove high blood cholesterol – says Małgorzata De-smond, a nutrition specialist from the Carolina Medical Centre. “The pandemic of overweight and obesity has been spreading for only 30 years so far. Cardio-vascular diseases then started massi-vely prevail not before than after the Second World War whereas diabetes incidence increased by 150% just within these last three decades only. The risk of developing breast cancer, bowel cancer or prostate cancer multiplies even dozen times when we move from Asia to the USA. In turn the very changes in the human genotype transpire very slowly, namely by a couple of percents throughout hundreds of thousands years. In view of this the genes that had been passed on to us by our ancestors can not stand for the answer to the rapid incidence of civilisation diseases that has been taking its place during the last 60 years – assures Małgorzata Desmond.

This kind of information and news, if ill-interpreted, might suggest that we have hardly any control over our health condi-tions. For instance practically 20% of Europeans carry the two copies of FTO gene what exposes them to obesity by 2,5 times as more in comparison to the rest of the population. However the risk in concern increases in case of persons who consume large amounts of fat. When people who are predisposed to obe-sity follow low-fat diet the degree of the risk remains unchanged notwithstanding given genetic loads. It is because that the ge-netic predispositions turn active by the cause of environmental factors, for example diet – explains Desmond.

- The problem is attended by means of nutrigenomics, a scien-ce which enables to understand how food intakes affect func-tioning of genes. It proves that our genotype is not a static col-lection of predispositions passed on to us by our parents and grandparents but a biological set of dispositions we can have influence on by the way we lead our lives.

Today an average Polish person does not observe any appro-priate diet and is not particularly physically active what is the very reasons which most often than not activate genes that direct obesity, diabetes, blood circulation disorders, hyper pressure or some certain kinds of cancers. As a result of it we have to face this unprecedented epidemic of the diseases abovementioned.

Then “switching on genes of health” is viable on the strength of diet our primogenitors followed. This olden diet, presently ter-med “the Garden of Eden diet”, is chiefly based on unprocessed vegetable products. As soon as within 6 months of practising

this it is realizable to slow down development of prostate cancer since the diet stimulates anticancer body functions.

Altogether it is also possible to effect the diet to halt operation of genes that exact resi-stance to insulin the disorder of which is the basic ground of diabetes type 2 and related to it high levels of “bad” cholesterol. A study published in 2008 in a prestigious magazine The Lancet showed that the diet of Eden also stimulates the gene that codes telomerase which is a substance that determines longe-vity. Altogether the diet is the best solution to slimming down since it affords relatively small amounts of energy in given quantities of food consumed – this is why obesity was not known in the prehistoric times.

- We are not slaves of our genes. In most cases diet and lifestyle can alter predispositions co-ded in genes but only on condition that we are wholeheartedly ready for really serious chan-ges.

The Source: Biomedical


23

echo życiaIT IS WORTHWILE TO KNOW

What do you smell of? Smells determine lifestyle, identity and social status. After eras of steam, plastic and compu-ters an age of aromatics superve-ned. Rubbish bags smell of violets, bathroom and kitchen cleaning agents smell like “Channel 5” whereas petrol like strawberries – says senior doctor lecturer Marek Krajewski. A man of our times does not smell natural. The pressure of mo-dern culture caused that we have to cover up our natural “individual” smell with artificial fragrances that are available on the market. Only in private intimate life the closest to us persons can come into contact with our natural body smell.

Eliminating natural body smells – perspiration, excrements, mouth odours and gases – ensued from the civilisation progress and the split from animal na-ture. A capability of hiding one’s own natural smell has also its weight on social distinction. In today societies dominating groups “smell” while do not secrete any natural scents then when groups from dregs of society secrete uncontrollable odours. In the 21st century the role of smell became already something more than means of seducing, gaining social status or building identity. Smell turned out to be one of mass consumption products. Aromatising makes cultures sensitive to the smells in their very environ-ment, it is today intended to afford people with interpretation tools that would enable them to experience and “understand” smell stimuli and is this what enco-urages consumers to enjoy their value. As dr Krajewski notes nowadays we can send scented emails, design fra-grant www sites or devise perfumed computer games. – Thanks to the newest technology people are able not only to mix their own smells or lace them into surroundings but also feel smells of products they buy online – he says. The first attempts of enriching the traditional forms of entertainment with fragrance features took place as early as in the fifties. It was then when some cine-mas in America tried to introduce a new kind of amusement called Smell-o-Rama or Aroma-Rama. For the duration of shows various smells were released from beneath the chairs and were ones that were meant to correspond to what was happening on the screen.

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echo życia IT IS WORTHWILE TO KNOW

An example of the growth of societal aromatisation and commercial exploitation in the respect presents with the newest offers of aromatic journeys. One of American tra-velling companies, Provence Aromatherapy Retreat, recommends their clients trips deep into Provence and South France lands of oils, consultations with aromatherapy experts or “sensations of blooming fields”. In line with dr Krajewski smell beco-mes a nation’s interest which should be fami-liarised just the same as historic buildings or art exhibitions. Nonetheless he remarks that travelling thousands of kilometres with the aim of sole smelling or viewing something what can be bought in a supermarket must be equally a representation of revaluation of the sense of smell in the West as well as a kind of seeking reasons for consumption lifestyle.Another illustration of commercial dimen-sion of the world of scents is the progressive-ly growing market of pheromones.- Pheromones, just as fast-food relating to hunger, internet behind the need of being on move, or giant shopping malls out of en-tertainment craving, offer specific short-cuts on their own – explains a sociologist.In his opinion advertising pheromones as an unfailing approach to win a partner changes generally established thinking of traditional lines convincing the receivers of the spots that the previous ones are not much effecti-ve anymore and only buying the promoted products can guarantee their dreams to come true. Smells are also employed for marke-ting other products. For instance the Aroma-tech company offers devices that are meant to atomise essential oils via air conditioning system. The computer driven system distri-butes given present smells in remote-con-trolled mode. The device is advertised as an ideal piece of equipment that is to stimulate productivity of workers by manipulating of smells which relate to their duties.Then in Korean Hyundai showrooms the pur-chasers of luxury cars are allured by upper--class perfumes that are automatically spray-ed out the moment the front doors opens.In turn at the airports travellers often can smell pine since the studies prove that the

scent affords relaxing properties that relieve stress which stays in relation to flying. Furthermore the sociologist points that adverts of perfumes and all other cosmetics gain in undisputable force by way of instilling “tenseness if not paranoia”. Such a smell does not give a ghost of chance.- Just as advertisers aptly observed body smell is a perfect instrument as to be applied as a marketing gimmick since it is based on nameless anxiety – voices Krajewski. Individual persons are not aware of their own smell for smell can not be seen and viewed. There is only advertisement spots that speak as if an objective impartial person and are those ones that can warn against the dangers of body smell. Along with this rule “seedy” (natural) mouth odour make it impossible to engage a girl into a relationship or contract a job until the smell is refreshed with some toothpaste. As long as you do not use Spice Girls deodorant you are not any likely to draw any attention. If you do not apply Rexona you will never realize your professional life. When you do not treat yourself with J’Adore you can not ever be a real woman. Smells determine lifestyle, identity and social status. Certain scents are associated with a given type of personality, profession, wealthiness, way of dressing, background and nation-belonging. According to Krajewski incorporating smell element into the game after prestige and distinction sets off “instability of all social di-sparities and necessity of constant proving of it”.- Contemporary man is what he smells of when smells of this what is trendy and pro-per here and now. He tries to smell like people who he identifies with. Whereas human iden-tity is elusive like this what expresses it since this what expresses it is what determines the very identity.

Compiled by: Editorial Team

25


Do you

know what

you eat?

26


In an issue of the scientific magazine “Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemi-stry” Swedish researchers ascertained their previous findings which regarded frying potatoes the process of which generates a very dangerous cancerigenic substance – acryloamide. As soon as in April, on a press conference, the Swedish scientists made it public that what they discovered in chips, crisps, and crunchy bread among others was considerable amounts of this cancerigenic substance that sometimes happened to surpass obligatory norms even hundreds times as much. The Stockholm Univer-sity chemists maintain that it is of no difference whether potatoes are fried, roasted in the oven or cooked in a microwave since they invariably contain enormous qu-antities of acryloamide. In their opinion large amounts of this substance are also to be found in crunchy bread, some other assortments of bread and other fried and ba-ked at high temperature products that consist of plentiful carbohydrates (e.g. flour food and rice). For instance a pack of crisps may comprise even fife hundred times more of acryloamide than it is officially accepted by the World Health Organisation. Acryloamide is also generated in meat that is fried but not in amounts that are de-trimental to health. Acryloamide is a chemical compound that is called 2-propena-mide. It takes form of white inodorous crystals that resemble snow flakes in their shape. The composite is used in industry production of polymers, dyes, synthetic fabrics, paper items as well as employed in metallic ore treatments. Furthermore it is utilized as an additive to special types of concrete that are applied in constructions of dams and tunnels. In turn natural environment is what causes acryloamide to de-compose on the strength of bacteria from the soil. When it reaches rivers it can settle in masses in fish. It was a common knowledge a long time now that acryloamide engenders tumours of the alimentary tract and impairs the nervous system. Even mere amounts of the substance may effect a general weakening of body organism and a loss of coordination down in the legs. Acryloamide poisons the body sys-tem notwithstanding if it is swallowed, inhaled or absorbed via skin. The results of the studies conducted by the Swedish researchers have been already confirmed by relevant investigators from Norway, Great Britain, Switzerland, Germany and the United States. Experts from the World Health Organisation avowed the findings of the Swedish scientists to be alarming. Dr Joanne Tobacman from the Iowa Univer-sity claims that food additives may prompt stomach ulcer and cancer. Having had inspected 45 study cases she concluded that carrageenan might give rise to cancer of stomach and bowel. Carrageenan is extracted from seaweed and is applied as a thickener in ice creams, yogurt, cheese and puddings. The agent is marked with the symbol E-407 and used as a substitute of fat in processed meat products. Altogether it can be found in condensed milk, some products that are based on soya milk as well as in beer and salad sauces.

Carried out on animals tests proved that carrageenan is hazardous, stated dr To-bacman. The results of her investigation were published in the magazine “Envi-ronmental Health Perspectives”. On the ground of separate studies the findings of which in turn were published in “Medical Hypothesis” dr Tobacman suggests that this thickener may stay in relation to the growing number of breast cancer that transpired in the 20th century. Then she points that in aim of avoiding it people sho-uld examine the ingredients of ready-made dishes they buy and altogether consume more basic products that are less processed. What she reports at the same time is the fact that the harmfulness of carrageenan was already established in the seventies but no one has taken any action in concern so far.

NEXUS, Nowe Czasy

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As early as 4000 years ago honey was recommended as a nutritive and remedial product the fact of which can be learned from Sumerian records. Hippocrates who was regarded to be the father of medicine used honey so as to prepare ointments and sweeten herbal brews. Honey was also valued in Egypt. The queen Cleopatra cared for her beauty bathing in asinine milk and honey. Avicenna, an Arabian scholar numbered honey among important remedies what he did in his work “Canon medicine” in the 8th century.

Apitherapy is a field of medicine that concerns tre-atment and prophylaxis of ailments by means of bee products. In used to be times the term of apitherapy was reserved for managing rheumatic conditions with bee venom. Today this medicinal domain bears name of apitoksynotherapy whereas employing the rest of bee products in medicine is called apitherapy which name covers treatment of diseases with products that are secreted, collected or processed by bees.

These products are:-bee pollen – the produce delivered by bees,-propolis, bee bread, nectar honey – the produce deli-

vered and processed by bee families,-bee milk, bee venom and wax – the produce secreted

by bees.

Apitherapy, health from honey

The products are very beneficial for people as they afford unusual properties. Many of them are antibacterial and antiviral, advance regene-ration of tissues, stimulate immunity and have unspecific effect on entire body – what manife-sts in general betterment of condition, enhan-ced recovery of endured illnesses or strengthe-ned body form of the elderly.

The advantage of bee products (apitherapeu-tics) over synthetic products, namely popular drugs – is absence of side-effects (obviously if aptly applied) and ease of absorption (in con-trast to chemiopharmaceutics that are received by organism as foreign bodies).

Nevertheless it is needed to remember that apitotherapy can not take the place of conven-tional medicine and any serious cases or even use of apitotherapeutics as such should be con-sulted with a doctor! Especially treatment with venom – it can be practised only under super-vision of a doctor and after previous examina-tions!

Compiled by: Mariusz Gładysz

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FIGS

They have a very good ef-fect on heart and blood cir-culation system. It is useful to consume figs during ge-neral body enervation and anaemia. Fig tincture relieves breathing and prevents from asthma. Particularly recom-mended are stewed fruits and beverages made out of dried fruits. It is worthwhile to re-member that dried figs af-ford plenty of calcium. In 100 grams of this fruit we are to find as much of this element as we do in a glass of milk! Therefore figs are recommen-ded in diets of children and people who run a risk of oste-oporosis, for instance women who undergo menopause.

The fruit also contain lots of fibre so just as like dried plums improve the peristalsis of bowels. It is the reason why they are so readily applied by persons who suffer from con-stipations and problems with alimentary system. It is worth to keep in mind that tiresome constipations add to can-cer of large bowel. Then the white deposit on figs is not mildew but sugar that preci-pitates during the process of drying.

Compiled by: Karol Łyczkowski

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Sage is advised as a diet component for its content of vitamins A, B1, C, and PP among others. Altogether it is a source of mine-ral salts, tannins, organic acids as well as wormwoods and essential oils.

Sage is known to be anti-inflammatory and antibacterial as tannins and essential oils are astringent compounds. In view of this sage is used in inflammations of oral cavity, gums and throat, and then also in angina. The plant prevents against fever. Sage extracts prove to be practical when ap-plied in form of compresses on minor skin injuries and badly healing wounds. Bathing in sage brews are recommended in case of rashes and rheumatic diseases.

Sage is extraordinarily helpful in gastric catarrh and inflammation of alimentary tract. It is because the essential oils compri-sed in leaves prompt secretion of digestion juices and curb fermentation in the bowels. Based on sage tea relieves diarrhoea. The herb presents with relaxant properties.

Alike persons who have sweating pro-blems should go in for sage. Brews of this herb is applied in night sweating, fevering as well as in hyperactivity exacted by hyper-thyroidism and nervous disorders. Drank before sleep sage tea starts working as soon as after about 2 hours. A bath in sage brew is also advantageous. Both tea and bath can be prepared out of fresh and dried leaves.

The plant is also believed to improve me-mory. A glass of sage brew favours study-ing and advances concentration.

Altogether sage was affirmed to be seda-tive. It reduces tension and enhances frame of mind. Apart from this based on sage tea is advocated in tiredness, low pressure and breathing complaints.

Compiled by: Aniela Szymańska

SAGE

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Geranium, called cranesbills, is a popular decora-tive plant that is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Among its species there is one par-ticular of exceptional medical properties, geranium robertianum. Primarily it was used as an anticancer remedy and aphrodisiac. All alike it was applied so as to reduce elevated glucose intensity in blood and employed to regulate menstrual cycle. Geranium was introduced by the Saint Robert at the turn 7th and 8th century. Hence it is his very name geranium robertianum owes the second component of its term to.

In the old days geranium oil was mainly used as an aphrodisiac for it was regarded to prove properties si-milar to ginseng. It was believed that the plant aids to sustain youthfulness as well as is a remedy that revita-lises what was meant that it favours adaptation of hu-man body organism to changeable or adverse condi-tions within the environment. Today the oil is applied as a natural agent to combat moths, aromatise dishes and in aromatherapy. Cranesbills, just like all-heal, contains valerian oil that affords sedative and sopo-rific effects. Brews from its leaves, decoctions from its root or based on it tinctures present with high concen-trations of tannin and this is on the strength of which they were practised to relieve torrential diarrhoeas and in order to arrest bleedings. On top of that gera-nium exacts such properties as antibacterial, antiviral, diastolic, diuretic, cholagogic, apophlegmatic as well as ones that prompt secreting of gastric juices. This the reason why it was also employed in treatments of bladder and kidneys’ disorders or indigestions. Then should we be willing to take up collecting geranium and making brews out of it we need to mind it first that the plant may engender contact allergies in form of itching patches on the skin or even extravasations.

Compiled by: Antonina Niekrasz

GERANIUM


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THE GODS OF THE OLYMP ARE ALSO DISABLED

HEPHAESTUSThe approach to the disabled has been changing in

conjunction with the progress of the civilisation. It be-came determined throughout historical stages by given prevailing philosophical and social points of view, reli-gious beliefs, systems of values as well as customs and practices. There were many different attitudes towards the disabled. As many as many forms of disability.

In the ancient times attitude of discrimination and extermination was the one predominant. Disability was regarded as a manifestation of supernatural po-wers and the afflicted persons were sentenced to their death. All this because the ancient Greeks worshipped beauty and physical strength. They did not tolerate blemish and infirmity. For instance Spartans decided that there was no place for the disabled in their coun-try. The state supervision over the citizens was execu-ted from the very moments of births. If a father presen-ted his new born baby to ephors (official leaders) and the child was weak, handicapped or ill-developed, the parents were bounded to desert it on the cemetery in the mountains of Taygetus. The only one person who was allowed to take the infant home was a merciful helot (a serf) in order to foster it as a future slave like he himself. The nation of the Spartans was meant to be strong and healthful. However it is a difficult issue to ascertain how acquired disability was treated in that period.

Then in ancient Rome the approach to a man was determined by a given social position. When the rich had their disadvantage time they could be certain of receiving medical care and assistance of servants whe-reas the poor could count almost solely on themselves. Initially the incapable to work slaves were turned onto the street. Over time they were transported to the tem-ple of Asclepius that was situated on the one of the Ti-ber islands. In this place, far from anyone else’s sight, they were to depart their lives. Curiously enough the Romans approached the mentally ill in a very huma-nitarian and advanced line. Handing them over under care of their closest, what actually was a legitimate practice, they recommended them following therapies the elements of which were for instance wine and mu-sic. It was a great headway in view of the fact that be-fore the affected by disease were more often than not locked in darkness since it was assumed that delusions and hallucinations intensify on exposure to light.

The ancient legends and myths fre-quently conveyed the notion that the di-sabled (changelings) had supernatural powers which were beyond reach of nor-mal people. The afflicted were ascribed to the sphere of sacrum where among other sanctities were met with equal loathing and piety. Then physical deformities was understood to personify their powers sin-ce the olden cultures did not separate soul from body.

The then gods were never disabled whereas did experience human emotions whether it was jealousy, affection and sadness or even pain and fear, when une-xpectedly a disabled person appeared in the pantheon of the Olympus. Hephaestus (Gr. Hephaistos, Rom. Vulcan) – the god of fire, blacksmiths, and silversmiths. He was a son of Zeus and Hera. He was diffe-rent from all others immortal since he was the least of the good-looking. When he was born Zeus simply ejected him thrusting the baby down from the Olympus for he did not want such a progeny. The fall from

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the mountain peak rendered Hephaestus lame. Little Hephaestus hit Lemnos island. The quake in a local volcano woke three Cyclopes up what prompted them to come and see what was going on. They recognised the infant to be the child of Zeus and resolved to bring him up their way.

Visual art performers tended to keep the fact of his disability discreet and portrayed the godly blacksmith in a sitting position as well as pro-duced his image as him being a muscular, bear-ded and strong male. The only one exception is a picture “Venus and Volcano” by Hendrik van the Elde that depicts him with a walking stick. Other artists seem to pass the fact of his disability in silence or try not to em-phasise it. Nonetheless most often they illustrate the god while he is working over a white-hot oven or an anvil.

OWhat came to light was the actuality that the rejected son of Zeus had a remarkable talent. Hephaestus construc-ted his own smithy down in the Etna volcano and it was there where he crafted marvels out of metal, fashioned ornaments out of it, devised armours, Eros arrows and swords, or even managed to forge thunderbolts for his fa-ther. The latter mentioned won the father and both recon-ciled. In reward for the harm suffered by Hephaestus Zeus bestowed his son with the most beautiful goddess – Aph-rodite. The goddess was beautiful but not much happy in the marriage for Hephaestus never become to feel at home in the Olympus, he felt ill at ease there among the gods, he was not one to enjoy the lucullan feasts, he still preferred to work instead. Aphrodite quite the reverse, she craved admiration, to be desired, to be the centre of attention. Then so she was unfaithful to Hephaestus fulfilling it with his brother Ares. She did it furtively what was secured by a tiny belligerent god as her night guard. Any time when Helios, a friend of Hephaestus, ascended to the firmament, the sentry god warned Aphrodite and Ares so as they could part. One day the god fell asleep on the guard and Helios caught the couple in the act the fact of which he promptly delivered to Hephaestus. It incensed Hephaestus. He devised a trap which required a very strong golden thread that would be as thin as practically invisible. Having made such, he caught sleeping lovers into a net and exposed them to public laugh to scorn in front of other gods. However Zeus brought Hephaestus ro-und to let the couple free. After that enraged Ares turned the tiny god into a rooster ( to make him continually remember to signal sun rising).

The disability of the god blacksmith was never a barrier against the profession he performed. The fact that it was his passion was probably not the very answer. He understood the sense of his “vocation”. His life and owing to it lives of others gained in authentic meaning. He worked hard but also offe-red work to lame people like him. Intriguingly today scarcely anyone is willing to employ the disabled. It is the situation we face regardless of such a positive image of the disabled in

medias, regardless of such frequent voicing of the popular word: “tole-rance” …

Photo: Diego Velazquez, Apollo in the Forge of Vulcan, 1630

Hephaestus was a god that was highly valued by people. It might be because that he was so human-like. He challenged everyday life just as they did whilst he managed to find his meaning in service to others and work above all. He was certainly committed to his occupation and this way he could truly satisfy pe-ople. His craft was not only useful but also beautiful. He defied his di-sability and was deservedly rewar-ded with appreciation and esteem.

Compiled by. A.K.

Photo: Diego Velazquez, Apollo in the Forge of Vulcan, 1630

echo życia

Photo: Alexandre Cabanel, “The birth of Venus”, 1875

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WOne day a motif of martyrdom happens to be a part of an olden legend of Podlasie. Somewhat pe-culiar a martyrdom as such. The poorly complains about his lot as along the lines: - The landlord is to scatter me all along the field, then drag me through the sand. No sooner do I grow a little than snow falls down and then I do turn frozen kind. Spring is when I feel fairly well. Then summer is the season when so many countrywomen are to come all in one, all to cut me just at once! They are to butcher me half way through, my hands, my legs, through. After that I am simply tied tight into sheaves. Next after they beat my head with flails and in-between stones, grinding me as they are to, to grind me as they are to do! Then being ground I am to be kneaded-trough, with their palms and elbows neat as this. Afterwards they fire me in the oven as if I was an evil soul in the hell. If not enough hell I end under a knife for all their wealth!

TThis is a story of bread martyrdom and its turns of life before it landed on the tables of our ancestors. Such a long and complicated process of its prepara-tion must have been a cause that added to its suffe-ring. Then bread was never just food. It had many other meanings in mentality of the old culture of Podlasie, just as within the entire region of Suwalsz-czyzna. The Christian religion then was what ma-inly imparted them. Making each one loaf of bread was found by the folk to be an analogy to the salvific passion of Jesus Christ. For this reason the whole cult was fulfilled with pagan rites and magic.

The needed raw material for bread production was rye and wheat flour. Then a comparative importance was also attached to the kneading-through, namely the vessel in which dough was kneaded. It resem-bled a large barrel that tapered in its shape. The con-tainer was meant to be made out of at least two oak wood-blocks since this kind of timber was regarded best suitable. It was believed that if the vessel had been constructed within one day from wood that was stroke by a thunder it would have produced bread “like a shot” which is immensely fast. People were not much willing to lend the kneading-thro-ugh as they feared evil eyes cast on it. It was accep-ted as true that looking at bread by others would make bread lose its “sourdough” and spoil it. When quality of bread turned worse, what the kneading--through was always blamed for, the old housewives employed their well known method to restore the vessel properties. They laid it down and walloped with a broom calling out: “Remember to be dutiful”.

The very process of baking was rigorously restricted by numerous formulas in terms of what was allowed and what was not as well as strewn with spells. Bread was routinely baked once a week. As a start sourdo-ugh was prepared, by rule on Friday. The kneading--through was filled with warm water that was mixed with flour the amount of which was meant to be a half or one third of volume intended for a batch. After scrupulous blending of products the vessel was put aside in a warm place for a whole night long so as to prompt sourdough to ferment. The next day dough was kneaded and completed with the rest of flour, salt, sometimes with other ingredients that se-rved volume and general quality. For instance co-oked potatoes. All the mass was kneaded by hands for some about an hour after which was left for a half a day to grow. A treat that was supposed to quicken maturing of dough was inscribing a sign of cross on it and making four holes where some water was po-ured in. In order to save bread from turning slack it had to be attended and peeped at smacking one’s lips next to it from time to time. The sounds were meant to be waking dough up for warm and covered with a white flaxen cloth cosy place could make it asleep. Shaped in loafs bread was laid down on a heated up oven that was lined up with sweet flag or horsera-dish leaves. Inserting a first one of them down in the oven with a shovel had to go along with a gesture of cross sign made by the right hand. This because that it was believed that one corner of the oven is a room of an angel and the other of a devil and it is the housewife who is to bless dough otherwise the devil “will spatter the angel straight onto stomach”. Until bread was baked a house woman could not have her sit down under no circumstances or else dough wo-uld go flat. Two, three hours afterwards was when bread was taken out from the oven. Straightforward then it was rinsed with water to secure its smooth and lustrous crust. The water used in the practice was reapplied by girls who were after taking care of their skin, who were to have it in a better condition. Still the one of other customs that was observed was one that directed so as not to cut first baked bread but instead share it by hand.

Well-baked bread was the greatest pride a house-wife could be of. In old used to be times slack cake or bread was a fair reason for a husband to be dis-gruntled and have his ground to beat up his wife for it as a punishment. This is why in a way preparing the batch took so much effort and attempts, both ra-

A STORY OF SOME CERTAIN MARTYR

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tional and magical ones. All because the endeavour was to be going to be a special treat. The make was an important part of many a sphere of life as religion, medicine or magic. Corresponding to the folk bread was a breed of matter out of which God formed gen-try whereas peasantry was moulded from mere clay. Time and again the produce was a kind of interme-diary between the earthly world and the one of gods. After Christmas Eve supper a loaf of bread was let left for souls or the very Jesus who was visiting ho-mes that day. Bread for the dead in turn was baked in different oblong shape and carved with a cross and then laid on graves. However it had to be made before the All Soul’s Day for baking it on the very hallowed time would happen to be an unintentional accident of tormenting a given soul in the stove. Bread was a par-ticular concern within family practices. It surrounded people from as early as their moments of birth. In or-der to protect a baby against a spell the mother was placing an end of bread underneath its clothing all by the time of baptising. In the land of Kurpie a bride co-uld not sit down by the table until so called rolling of bread took place. A she matchmaker, holding a bride by her hand, guided the future wife round the table spinning a loaf of bread on it. The act was ritually per-formed out of trust that bread – a symbol of affluence – will always stay by her in yet to come household. Bread was also observed on occasions of funeral rites. A little bread loaf was placed in the breast pocket of a deceased to enable the person to join the parentage with something more than empty hands.

Bread afforded invaluable medicinal properties in-deed. Those that proved in everyday life are quoted as follows:

- For a treatment of jaundice 9 head lice needed to be swollen in time whereas they were meant to be consumed 3 on one go and be packed in a bread por-tion.

- Managing of toothache was about eating bre-ad that had been bitten by mice. This could be equally applied as prophylactic means. Likewise aching head was to be nursed with warm bread that was to be cut and poured over with vinegar.

- In order to heal disfiguring moles they were rubbed with an end of bread which was passed to a dog to be eaten next after. Then the magical air of all

this was – the best of all parts of bread was the heel. The bud girls often got their lines crossed over the share for the one who always ate it was the one to be happy in her love life ever on. In turn the first and so-aked in water slice of bread was believed to add to the amount of milk of breast feeding mothers.

The means of bread was what enabled to confirm whether a given distant relative was still alive. This required only slotting of three ears into dough before the batch was placed in the oven. If they turned out to be just slightly golden it meant that he or she was not dead while charred cereal was a message of his or her passing away.

Merging of two loaves of bread during baking was a sign of a forthcoming wedding in a family. Then aga-in bread was most often practised in fortune-telling and magic related to the love with a partner. Aiming to win a young man’ heart a girl treaded her footprint next to his one. Then what she did was collecting sand from each one place and kneaded it into bread dough. If she managed to serve the chosen at least a tiny bit of a batch she was bound to earn all his advances. Bread was a produce that was present everywhere and stood the same for food, remedy, amulet, medium and above all as a gift from God. Being a basic food provision it represented a form of communion. One of grave sins was touching it with a dirty hand or sticking a cross in it. Even today if it comes to accord a kiss to a slice of bread, one suppose which was involuntarily dropped down the ground, it is not any more to be followed by belief into its heavenly origin, but by instilled by pa-rents respect for the produce itself and the very work that it had been created out of. We might occasionally happen to recall the symbolic role of bread, at the very last during feasts of harvests, whereas in everyday life …

What would bread voice about our times if it could? What would it complain about today? We produce it in a far larger scale and far much faster developing recipes far still altogether. Nonetheless we do happen to lose this magical smell and taste somewhere on the way down to the all the rush. Further more then we exact new and new torments that bread is to undergo – those through machines, through electrical ovens as an example. It became so rare to experience the feel of a human hand in the produce. Nowadays bread suffers greatly much more than ever before since it is so often junked over the streets, all over rubbish bins, there where it tends to be trampled and battered. It suffers immensely as long as it witnesses how the rich do not pay any attributable respect to it whereas the poor has none to pay it to. This is then the story of the bread martyrdom.

Marta Zajkowska

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Mummy’s boy or one lion-hearted?Some of us manage to be cool under

pressure. Others run fast away in any cri-tical situation given. Then a certain shoot--out, throughout which Gabrielle Giffords was as close as to die, showed that particu-lar mechanisms drive our reactions in the way that we differ how good or bad in we act in response to the extremal situations we happen to face. During the abovemen-tioned shootout that was targeted against Gabrielle Giffords, we were witnesses of the scene how Patricia Maisch, aged 61, wrested ammunition from the hands of Jared Loughner who was on his point of racking his gun. People like her certainly deserve paying our respect and admiration – they are heroes.

Being fairly amazed by the deeds of the kind we may well ask what exactly the cold blood takes its source from? Can cold blood be earned from experience? Is cold blood inborn or acquired? What is then the best way to control fear and stress?

DWe have been trying to reason the question since the times of Socrates but still psychology as a science commands of only some few data to explain the way how genes and experience inte-ract so as to condition our reactions to stressful situations. Nonetheless we do understand it bet-ter than ever before what phlegmatic personality is. It proves that the ability of self-possession in tense circumstances is strictly conditioned by ge-nes however composure is what we build thro-ugh entire life by way of anything we do.

Let us begin from the background of “natu-re”. First of all the aptitude of keeping our head together is coded in our DNA: it is our inborn predisposition towards anxiety. We have always known this that anxiety is partly inherited – pa-rents, for instance, may “infect” their child with future neurosis straight from the day of its birth.

However no one knew it how important our genes are until a psychiatrist, Kenneth Kendler, attended the issue. In 2001 Kenneth Kendler and his associates examined 200 pairs of male twins and scrutinised their phobias. Since all the twins

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received the same education, whereas only the monozygotic ones the same DNA, Kendler co-uld eliminate environmental factors and search for the number that determines our genetic in-clinations to anxiety. The result? Genes answer for our fear in 30%. However it is not a satisfy-ing conclusion. Anxiety definitely affects our conduct in a threatening situation but feeling anxious does not have to turn to be “panic”. Dreading something and losing in an action do not automatically go together.

The first researchers who carried out con-structive studies on self-control in crisis cir-cumstances were combat specialists who were able to factually follow up soldiers under fire during the Second World War. In 1943, a Bri-tish officer, Lionel Wigram, discerned that his investigations on infantry in the Italian front reflected some regularity. Any time when a sec-tion of 22 males confronted enemy forces, Wi-gram noted, soldiers reacted in line to the same proportions: a few of them yielded to fear and tried to run away, a few others showed their courage whereas the majority grew benumbed completely not knowing what to do. Wigram was not a scientist but his comprehension of our instinctive reactions is noticeably accura-te. According to the research studies effected by a psychologist and survival specialist, John Leach, in any given group that happens to face a situation of crisis, for instance fire or natural catastrophe, 10-15% of people are bound to run panic, 10-20% are more than likely to remain composed while all the rest are to turn out to be bewildered sheep as such.

If truth be told the statistics are not well ro-unded for all those of us who picture themse-lves reacting to a potential assault with a set of heroic karate strokes – whilst the worst is yet to come.

In the course of monitoring people who na-turally tend to stay self-controlled during a crisis researchers amassed evidence that their self-composure has biological grounds. A psy-chiatrist from the Yale University, Andy Mor-gan, scrutinised the behaviour of female recru-its from the selective special forces who were subjected to the training of “survival, evasion, resistance and escape”, namely 3-week in-struction time intended to simulate capturing by enemy and related to it tortures. The pro-gram is enormously loaded with stress but the recruits proved it possible to defy it with asto-nishing mental clarity.

When Andy Morgan analysed blood tests of soldiers who were able to act their self-con-trol in concern, he ascertained that they pro-duced much more “peptide called neuropep-tide Y (NPY)” than the soldiers that tended to go chaotic. The NPY peptide functions like a brain barrier that rebounds stress; its perfor-mance is that long that Morgan was capable to assess whether a soldier was suitable enough to be ranked among the special forces or not, simply by means of blood tests’ analysis.

It would seem then, that the evidence, which proves the fact that aptitude of cold blood can not be acquired just within a given life span, is being cumulating in basic terms. Our trepi-dation is determined in 30%. Less than every fifth reacts fittingly to stressful situations? Let us not be so ill-conceived! Instead let us take this into consideration: even if some tenden-cies towards cowardice are indeed coded in our genes they are still merely a half share of the courage capital we may stand in a situ-ation of crisis. Then the latest studies confir-med it indisputably that making some proper efforts and employing given tricks we may not only overcome the inborn inclinations but also give rise to our self-control for good. The first one step on the way of curbing fear is tra-ining. The study cases of the soldiers from the Second World War and those of the victims of catastrophes might be foreboding but one nu-ance has to be pointed out: practically none of the persons was prepared to confront a situ-ation of such a weight. Most of them reacted like stupefied sheep whereas not because that they were not capable to bear out their cold blood but by reason of unmitigated confusion. Then again training is what can change the di-spositions in respect. The psychologist Andres Ericsson showed it plainly that if we mean to remain free of anxiety in the middle of a sho-oting scene, or even during a public presenta-tion in an office, the best effective method is getting hold of the attitude at the very spot gi-ven, live, in real circumstances, as long as the attitude becomes as if the second nature.

Corresponding to David Eccles, a colleague of Ericson, even so simple manoeuvres as for example evacuation drills may significantly improve our responses to crisis. Adequate ar-rangement of our natural predispositions, if rendered much in advance, should be the base of proper adaptation.

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Another method that we can learn in order to remain calm and self-controlled relies on a different kind of training: namely we need to develop our own beliefs that will add to our condition of stress resistance. It was already established in several studies that the people who function fairly well under pressure of stress share plenty of deep convictions: they tend to approach any change and uncertainty time not as a time of threat but as a time of uncommon and exciting opportunities; they concentrate on what they are able to do to relieve stress instead of passive waiting till it seizes them with hopelessness; they lean to-wards engaging into the world around rather than retiring from it.

Some people simply were born with such capacities however psychologists assure that the skills can be equally acquired. Salvatore Maddi is one of the psychologists who works at the University of California and affirms that the students who attend “stress resistan-ce” courses get better marks than others since they learn new attitudes and beliefs in relation to stress. The American Army rightly follows the idea and offers their own stress resistance courses that are obligatory to all 1 100 000 sol-diers. The idea might be easy to understand but the very practice is much more difficult to be mastered. The soldiers stand out in the crowd within the rule: whereas those many who march under fire tend to struggle aga-inst their fear cursing their nerves the ones who are fairly composed understand that fear is not necessarily about to stop them when it

even may come in aid. This shift to a friendlier vision of fear is something more in respect.

The studies that involved any possible oc-cupations and personalities, from classical musicians to professional swimmers, did not provide absolutely any evidence of differen-ce in intensity of stage fright between the old hands and the freshmen; in turn the artists and sportsmen of higher level who were more disposed to remain cold blood than amateurs tended to think that stress helps them on the way.

This what we attempt to do under pressure is not decisive, for instance whether we hap-pen to work deadlines, give a public speech or remain composed during a date, the decisi-ve question is learning cooperation with fear in order to be really able to change.

Then it is justly obvious that following the introduced in this article guidance will not render anyone to be a model of self-control straight overnight. However you can not be mistaken: no matter what genes are to com-mand you it is opting for intelligent trainings, adapting stress resistance attitudes and buil-ding better relationships with fear that is to reward us at the very moments of tension.

Compiled by. M.K.

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echo życia OUR LIFE

Who does still remember it how relatively recently – in the sixties of the last century - the sto-ring of supplies for the winter was organised? This which is when basic products, potatoes and cabbage, were purchased by quintals which meant 100 kilograms. In the multigenerational family house of my husband it was the grandfather Ludwik who was the potato expert. To this day I can recollect it clearly how in the dark morning he was walking out from the house onto the road where lines of brimmed with sacks carts were passing by on the way to a market, and, he was the one to spot the best potato delivery. Then the chosen horse cart was to take its turn down our yard, a farmer was about to untie a sack and then hawked the load: - Dear Mister, it is bred on manure, in fine soil, allow yourself to see how dry they are, how smooth, how scabless… Then the grandpa curtly: - We shall test it. Next after he selected given bulbs and dropped them into a basket. The farmer in turn made himself comfortably sitting in a spacious wooden kitchen. He did not even bother to take off his sheepskin being after sipping his tea only. The peasant enjoyed it all the more since he had been travelling the whole night to reach the town market place. The fire crackled in the stove, the grandfather peeled potatoes, while the grandmother Irena was getting a pot ready for cooking. Then the children were ones who had the first share of glee for after all there was a real horse standing in the yard with its head down in a sack filled with fodder, and next to it this giant cart which was dazedly, but in secure distance from the hoofs, barked at by the fellow Aflik, a domesticated mongrel. On one occasion the brood ran out of the house after the horse, when on the other they ran back to listen to what the old man happened to be drowning on. The doors were banging, the dog was yapping, the farmer was talking at length, during all of which the potatoes were just coming to get cooked. The grandpa cut the first one bulb, served it to the grandma, and then had some of it. In time it grew to be more and more quiet. “This was the moment of the proof”. It relied on ascertaining it whether potato did not go overcooked, did not turn dark and above all did taste well. The decision over the winter supplies, that were meant to provide food for not that small household up to the next coming harvests, matured along. It is because it was the times when no one could go and buy potatoes in a shop since not any single greengrocery had vegetables on the stock. – An Americaner variety, must be flavoursome and friable – the farmer boosted over it eating heartily a whole lot of a steaming potato as if he was to confirm the words he was selling. As far as the grandma Irena liked a given assortment the deal was completed. – Six quintals –the grandpa was to order and all the sacks were carried down to the basement by the farmer. After that the grower slotted his money behind the breast pocket, kissed the grandma Irena on her hand with due respect, and reversed his farm vehicle out of the country yard. He did not move much farther on. Not until our gate was locked the neighbours from the opposite side of the road were already by the cart as they knew it well that the preference of the grandfather Ludwik can not be any questioned. It was some more few days after when the women in the village lauded it in front of others about their winter supplies. What winter sup-plies! – Americanes past a tryout!

Lucyna Szepiel

AMERICANES PAST A TRYOUT

39

echo życiaOUR LIFE

The one I love is the one who creates me- Louis Aragon

Disease is what teaches humans the art of life. It teaches realism con-siderably changing points of views and systems of values. Then it is the very person who suffers from a disease who is able to understand ano-

ther person afflicted.Acceptance of disability adds to qualities in life. Acceptance of one

oneself adds to life qualities. On the strength of self-acceptance, accep-tance of own disease, disability, own limitations, a person is capable to bare his or her soul in front of another person, is relatively able to take responsibility of his or her life and live within society fairly normally. A disabled person who can accept oneself with all his or her weak po-ints is able to appreciate life as well as is more capable to benefit from each one moment given. If there is an opportunity he or she is to take

up education so as to decently live in the future. He or she does not fear challenge in life since knows that only thanks to own determination and courage he or she can win all those small tops of perfection on a

plain daily basis. Then closeness to others and friendly bonds reassure that one is not alone with a given problem, that there is someone next to who will lend a hand in need. This is a simple truth that one man needs another to live fuller life. Then only self-acceptance indeed may

come in aid to open oneself to another soul.A.K.

40

UNUSUAL ROOF OVER THE HEADIn the brutal, hungry and dangerous world the house

was always the place of definitive shelter. Enrooted in the ground and inherited by one generation after the other it bound humans both with nature and the past. The En-glish lyric poet of the 19th century, Thomas Hood, one who was also called the poet of the poor, ardently attemp-ted to point: all hearts around whisper: Home, Home at last … Children, if only to give them a piece of paper and crayons they exceptionally readily draw a simplest house possible – a touching house with one door, one window, and without fail a chimney from which smoke rises up in the air what is meant to show that the hearth still flames. Less lyrical than Hood and not so trustful towards chil-dren poets do not depict HOUSE that unequivocally. If to quote the master of paradox Georges Elgozy many hear-ths keep together merely down to one thread – the televi-sion cable. Then again home is a notion of living symbolic representation and great emotional loading as well as one that is rich in varied meanings whether the plainest or the most complicated if not sophisticated. It is a fairly com-mon knowledge what a home-based family is and what stands for being homeless, what an abode somewhere in the wilds is or a haunted house, then what a dream of glass houses can be or one of an used to be cottage witho-ut a chimney. It is relatively well known that William Pitt, a lord of Chatham, went down in history 200 years ago, yet it must be said that not by reason of giving his speech on excise bill as such, since it was not any breakthrough in the field, but as a result of historical words he uttered then in the House of Lords: “Englishman’s house is his castle”. However if truth to be told the lord cloned it from the phrase of another Englishman, sir Edward Cook, one which read: My house is my castle. Nonetheless every-thing remained within the aristocratic family. House is a symbol of privacy and security, asylum and lasting, but there are also the very opposite images of it, like a house of cards, a castle in the air or equally delusory one that is built on sand or ice. The power of the symbolic interpre-tation depends on given characters, levels and dimen-sions. Then we are able to tell it apart what a gospel hall is or a House of Bread, a mental house or a brothel. Likewi-se we recognise such term examples as a maternity room, then a wedding party place and next to it an old people’s home or a “house made out of clay”, as a grave used to be called. It also has its relevant grounds in a sex gender sin-ce we might say “the head of the family” or “the lady of the house”. Alike it is worthwhile to bring it to mind that according to the gospel of St. Mathew, “the host of the house” was not any other creature but the Beelzebub him-self, a Philistian god of the Ekron that fortfended against

Casa Batllo, Gaudi

echo życia FOR THOSE WHO ARE CURIOUS OF THE WORLD

41

echo życiaFOR THOSE WHO ARE CURIOUS OF THE WORLD

flies, mosquitoes and other environmental nu-isances in the wake of which he was named “the lord of insects”. Then the science of astrology gives us the picture that the Sky Universe is di-vided into twelve parts that are called Houses and the star constellation in each one of them is assumed to influence our happiness in marria-ge, wealth, health, offspring number and social status – all of which is being affirmed by serious mavens of telling fortunes. In turn “The First Epistle to the Corinthians” teaches that a house is an emblem of the body, especially feminine, the roof and loft of which is the head what is to be mind and awareness processes; kitchen – mental and alchemic transitions; cellars – dri-ves, instincts and subconsciousness routes. Then other history records illustrate factual ho-uses, like the House of the Salomon where phi-losophy of nature was studied, the House of Caesar’s wife Livia with its remarkable murals around the Palatine Hill, or the famous Ca’d’O-ro, the Golden House along the way of the Ve-netian Canal Grande. Ibsen is who we owe “The Doll’s House” to, Heinrich Berte is the one thanks to whom we could enjoy the operetta “The cottage of three girls” based on Shubert’s music, the Napoleon then is one whose name “The Napoleon’s Small Rotunda” bears. We know open houses, houses that are not only locked but also that well guarded as the veiled in the dismal legend Alcatraz, after that culture and community houses, then reformatories, or-phanages, homes for retired, warehouses, holi-day-houses, houses located in the city centres, in suburbs, in villages, houses built out of steel and concrete, ones covered with thatches, luxu-rious villas and paper carton boxes down under the bridges, dugouts and entire towns on the bottoms of oceans, houses on wheels and those on trees, still when each one of them is a unique meaning and story. A household member is a close trusted person what can not be said in case of a house-to-house salesman, a stay-at-home in turn is someone who prefers the surrounding of his house whereas language altogether pre-sents with more complex expressions. Thus we have “the threshold of a secret” and “the key to a mystery”. The threshold of a house is the outright border between what public and private is, between what freely accessible and this what personal and belonging to family being protected against strangers by wall, law and morals. The related to threshold magical import created itself throughout all the millenniums on the strength of the mul-tifaceted sphere of beliefs, superstitions and practices. In the old days the threshold was where bloodthirsty offerings were placed for cruel gods – for instance in the Middle East sacrifices of dead corps of children were buried underneath thresholds. Even today people happen to hang a horseshoe over the threshold since it “brings luck”. Then there are some who would not shake a hand “across the opposite sides of the threshold”. Now and again a groom carries his freshly married wife himself on his arms there over the threshold whereas greeting guests at the threshold, in line with the saying “God is in the house where a guest arrives at”, was traditionally ceremonial and performed with bread and salt served. Then, all what affords the crude literature on the blocks of flats seems to be at the very least a meagre depiction how anonymous populations of termites settled there and have been feeding themselves and copulating in the scrupulously numbered compartments. This is from which the trend of having the second house in the countryside surfaced among the city dwellers,

42


this is why smoking by grill became so of high regard as far as of free-will. Some about twelve or fifteen thousand years ago, there in the warm and full of water grounds within the lands of the Old Continent, Neolithic communities, together with their priests and priestesses, flourished, forming their distinct societal class that based on agriculture around their villages and fortified towns. Age by age the communities were more and more to exchange and share their particular ideas amongst. It is what Herbert George Wells so nostalgically re-fers to in his “History of the World”. Namely the primal cultu-re of farm peoples, one that was beautifully but not much ac-curately described by the archaeologists to be a heliolithic culture, the term of which stands for the Sun and stone. Then how far differently it can be expressed in quotes of the fear of a primitive man in front a thunderbolt or an attack by a woun-ded bison, in the face of hunger, cold and disease, all of which he was not able to comprehend but only had his nightmares about. Then the equally same meaning lies also behind the stating that a house used to be there or there but not anymore now. In one of the works of a decent farmer who settled in some given friendly climate of a land where he founded his house in response to defy his ever-preoccupying fears, and then in aim to find the practical and advantageous sides of having a house, Alvin Toffler, a famous journalist of Cultural Anthropology that tends to threaten with the future shock, says: “To all intents and purposes the civilisation had its be-

ginning in farming – this what prompted set-tling down or at least was the end of sullen ro-aming and migrating in case of the Palaeolithic nomads. The very word “being enrooted”, one to which we attach such a great importance to-day, was derived from a dictionary of agricultu-re. A pre-civilisation nomad would hardly grasp a given conversation on “roots”. In our days, this is a term that denotes a permanent place of living, a lastingly anchored “hearth”. In the brutal, hungry and dangerous world, the house – even if only a dilapidating one - was always the place of definitive shelter. Enrooted in the ground and inherited by one generation after the other it bound humans both with na-ture and the past”. Though Toffler would not be Toffler if he did not write something further more in a few next paragraphs: “As a result of the industrial revolution the world was set in perpetual motion and was not much “orderly” but a house still stood for an anchor and an im-mobile point during a storm. At any rate it was a house that could be trusted to remain stead-fast. Regrettably it was poetry rather than reali-ty, poetry that could not hold back the dyna-mics that were about to break bonds between people and their habitats. The used to be no-mads walked their ways through windy air full of sand or during searing heat, always shoved by hunger, but they still did carry their tents on their oxen, their family members and their tri-be people. They carried the entire physical and social being what they called to be their home. The nowadays nomads quite the reverse – they leave their life structures behind them. They le-ave everything except their basic societal body – family”.

Not all anthropologists are willing to share Toffler’s views since not all of his famed in the sixties conclusions and predictions happened to be confirmed at the turn of the centuries.

House, although changing in form and me-anings, still remains to be not only a legend but also all this what is understood as being home. Even if not necessarily it is to stand for the same “physical structure”, whether made of clay and wood, stone or brick, house is what still exists and seems to be functioning at least some time further on. Even if a nomad invasion in their car caravans was to be in store.

Andrzej Koziara

43

echo życiaFOR THOSE WHO ARE CURIOUS OF THE WORLD

In the aim to combat stress and sleeplessness it is worthwhile to apply natural and proven means in form of herbs. It is because they relieve nervous tension in safe and placid a way. The herbal treatment is supposed to last from 4 to 6 we-

eks. In case when it is needed the therapeutic approach can be undertaken once again after a two-week break. In order to manage stress the following plants are

recommended:

STRESS

AND HERBS

Great wild valerian

Valerian is a plant of strong sedative properties. It soothes and relaxes nervous tension. The herb

improves the quality of sleep, reduces painful mi-graines, adds to the capacity of concentration and relieves diastolic conditions. Then valerian brews

are best when based on alcohol.

Melissa sweet balm

Melissa is an ideal remedy for tiredness, irritation and anxiety. The plant reduces the sense of nervousness and calms down the heartbeat. It is also as good as eases he-adaches, stimulates digestion, curbs bloats, is antibacte-rial. Most commonly it is consumed in form of infusions however its raw leaves can be equally served as such, for example as a topping to salads.

Maypop

The plant is used so as to lace a bet-ter mood. It is tranquillizing, resto-res disorders of sleep and reins hy-peractivity in. The herb is also used as a solution against inflammations, pains and rheumatic complaints. Its performance grows as soon as it is combined with chamomile and va-lerian.

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Compiled by. Zofia Zaremba

Maypop

The plant is used so as to lace a bet-ter mood. It is tranquillizing, resto-res disorders of sleep and reins hy-peractivity in. The herb is also used as a solution against inflammations, pains and rheumatic complaints. Its performance grows as soon as it is combined with chamomile and va-lerian.

Verbena

Vervain is applied in cases of migraine head pains. It is also anti-in-flammatory and sedative-effective. The remedy is equally useful in concern of alleviated nervous tension. It also lightens the digestion system boosting appetite and prompting urine secretions. In medi-cinal practice the plant leaves are brewed and drank or combined with bath oils.

Hop

The plant is very popular in Poland. It exacts sleep-inducing and sedative properties. Then the herb is more potent than valerian or melissa. Its tranquillizing effect can be afforded not only by means of infusions but also by smelling hops alone. A few pieces of raw ones can be placed in a pillow so as to secure better sleep.

Garden angelica

It is a biennial parsley family plant. Apart from its se-dative performance it stimulates the digestive system. It purges indigestion and relieves colic. The herb is also a gentle apophlegmatic remedy that clears cough. Its roots are applied in respiratory system complaints. Then oils from the roots are used in case of rheumatic problems and rubbed in on achy lesions. Next to it angelica improves blood circulation. Altogether its stems can be cooked and served as a side meal as well as fresh leaves can be tied up with salads, soups and fish.

True lavender

Lavender helps to combat against tension and neurosis. It firmly proves soothing and relaxing properties. The herb pre-vents from migraine, sleeplessness and depression. Along it strengthens the immunity system, adds to diastolic responses and reduces blood pressure. Then lavender oil is applied to treat burns and wounds as a valuable agent of first aid. Milled leaves in turn can be mixed with certain dishes.

45

EQUALLY LACKI AS RUSKI SURAŻ

46

echo życia FEUILLETON

Suraż, situated by Narew next to an estuary of Liza, is one of the smallest towns in Podlasie and Poland. The surrounded by gardens houses, still wooden ones, spread around on either side of the river above which the tower of the church stretches. Time goes by quietly in here and in accord

with the passing seasons. A locality like many others in Podlasie.In the past Suraż was seething with people, the town was vociferous and of sumptuous life whereas

many a time dangerous one. In the 19th century, Narew lined the northern border along which the ruskie settlements could be at home. It was the terrain were people landed from Rusia Kijowska, Rusia Halicko--Włodzimierska, just like Masovians, Lithuanians, and Jaćwingowie. In order to secure their survival they built up their fortifications there in Suraż which were meant to guard the river and valleys before the outsi-ders. The structures lasted up to 1241 until were burnt by Tatars. After the defence fighting the Lithuanians were those who seized power over the upper Narew. It was them to rebuild the constructions.

it was a time of massive migration from Mazowsze. Then the Teutonic Order claimed rights to the gro-unds. Their conquests finally destroyed Suraż in 1392. Only after the victorious battle of Grunwald certain peace prevailed in the borderland. The burg town and neighbouring terrains were annexed to the Grand

Duchy of Lithuania. In 1445 Suraż was bestowed the Town Charter. The

local trade routes, both overland and via water, assured some prosperity in the town. In the 16th century, down to the Bona Sforza’ s command, a castle was erected in the place of the gord. The embankment of the used to be fortification is what proves this historical fact to this day.

The river always divided the town into two parts. Then bridges connected them. There used to be a few of them before but it is one only today that has remained. The left-bank town area was lacka, with belonging to it catholic church, whereas the right-bank one stood to be ruska. Regrettably the there orthodox churches did not outlast the history turmoils. In any case both of the ri-ver sides had their own separate town-hall squares and nevertheless formed one resilient civic organism. People crossed the river line freely, they equally liberally impor-ted any goods from far away places, and by way of this could learn news from the other cut above world and its conventions.

The layout of the town has not changed up to now. We may walk down the today Suraż streets and not know that it was just exactly the same there as when it was 400 years ago. Then the archaeologists and their excavation works provide the evidence of this reality.

The Swedish deluge exacted an undeniable end of the big time in the town. Marches-through of armies, plunders, fires and epidemics devastated the tangible properties and general possessions. Then what fol-lowed was the shift of trade routes when railway tracts were decided to run outside the grounds of Suraż.

In 1863 the January Uprising reached the lands. It was what aroused the hope in the future freedom which was to come after all 55 years.

Within the sites of today Suraż, on the hill of the Bona Sforza, a given brick of the olden castle can be unearthed. Then the erstwhile parts of the town are still there to be found anew and again – the lacka and ruska, likewise the former names of the streets like Bielska, Zabłudowska, Tatarska. Thankfully enough there is the Communal Archaeological Museum. It is where the history of the land and town has been esta-blished to live on. The gathered showpieces of the past are dated from before the 20th century. The museum was founded thanks to a Suraż resident, the deceased Władysław Litwińczuk.

The start of it all was fairly prosaic, the exertions in the field were for Litwińczuk the source of the found artefacts. He began to collect them together and trace their chronological origin. He was convinced that they are the testimony of the any family backgrounds. Then he managed to stage the displays of them at his very private house. All the long his life he added to the tradition. At present, now, the legacy after his father and the passion related, was being braved by the son, Wiktor Litwińczuk, the curator of the Suraż museum.

Adam Stefański

DESIDERATA• Go placidly amid the noise and haste,and remember what peace there may be in silence.As far as possible without surrenderbe on good terms with all persons.Speak your truth quietly and clearly;and listen to others,even the dull and the ignorant;they too have their story.

• Avoid loud and aggressive persons,they are vexations to the spirit.If you compare yourself with others,you may become vain and bitter;for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

• Keep interested in your own career, however humble;it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.Exercise caution in your business affairs;for the world is full of trickery.But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;many persons strive for high ideals;and everywhere life is full of heroism.

• Be yourself.Especially, do not feign affection.Neither be cynical about love;for in the face of all aridity and disenchantmentit is as perennial as the grass.

• Take kindly the counsel of the years,gracefully surrendering the things of youth.Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.Beyond a wholesome discipline,be gentle with yourself.

• You are a child of the universe,no less than the trees and the stars;you have a right to be here.And whether or not it is clear to you,no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

• Therefore be at peace with God,whatever you conceive Him to be,

and whatever your labors and aspirations,in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

• With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,it is still a beautiful world.Be cheerful.Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

echo of life 24

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