There was a big section on this, with several articles, in this mornings news on one of the web sites (either MSN or CNN, I can't find it now). It appeared in the first article that they were downplaying the risk, saying that it would be very difficult for the terorists to get biological or chemical agents to use against us. Other articles, however, said basically what I found in my research the other evening, that these weapons are neither very difficult nor very expensive to produce, and they are rather simple to distribute, as well. The terrorists almost certainly already have them. And, again, someone commented on Osama bin Laden's well-known willingness to use such weapons.

My husband has an OLD Air Force Survival manual, and a newer Army one -- I spotted the Army one this morning, and pulled it out. It was published in 1992, after the Persian Gulf War. It commented also on the likelihood of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons being used in any future conflict, and agreeing with most of the reports I've seen so far that chemical and biological are more likely to be used, as nuclear is expensive and more difficult. Doesn't mean it won't be used, just less likely. Of course most of their survival information is meant for soldiers out in the open, and equipped with gas masks, which most of us don't have. But basically the instructions were the same advice I've repeated already: on contact wash thoroughly with soap and water. Maintain high levels of hygiene even if it gets difficult to do so. Fleas, mosquitoes, and such can be used as a deliberate disease vector, so take measures to prevent bites, especially if there is an unusually large infestation. Prevent contact of agents with the skin, and avoid breathing them (gas masks, those hardware store or medical masks if gas masks aren't possible). They said for a nuclear blast, you don't even have to have a roof, the most urgently needed protection is from the blast itself. So a low spot in the ground, the back side of a hill, or so on would help there. But those would not be good places to be in the event of chemical or biological agents being used as those tend to settle into low spots. Then you want free-moving air, no buildings or vegetation to trap and protect the agent.

Someone earlier thought the incubation period for anthrax was as much as twelve days. That may be, but I think in most people the symptoms would start showing up much sooner than that. Symptoms would be mild initially, then the patient seems to be getting better, then relapses and dies within a couple of days.

Yeesh, I sure seem to be bringing doom and gloom to the list! But better to know what the threats are and have some kind of plan to deal with them, than to be taken by surprise and panic. I was thinking, it was impressive that the people in the WTC evacuated in such an orderly manner. But if they'd known that the buildings were going to collapse, would they have reacted differently? And how could anyone build such tall buildings with such skinny stairwells!!!! If those stairwells had been even twice as wide, they could have gotten more people out!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), September 18, 2001

Answers

Hindsight is always twenty-twenty. The woulda, shoulda, coulda will haunt this nation for along time after this. For now we'll have to console ourselves with hunting rattlesnakes before they make a bigger nest in our midst.

-- Sandra Nelson (Magin@starband.net), September 18, 2001.

Kathleen, I for one am THRILLED to have you here with us!

-- Cathy in NY (hrnofplnty@yahoo.com), September 18, 2001.

Second that! Hadn't heard from Kathleen in a long time and glad to see her here too!!

-- Barb (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), September 18, 2001.

Thanks, it's nice to have people glad to see you! (Though I suspect there are a few here that would rather not have seen me!)

I've been busy, and the computer has been down for repairs, so it took me a while to find this list. Finally had to ask on Christian Homesteaders list, and Doreen directed me.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), September 19, 2001.

I’ve been using pure therapeutic grade essential oils for several years. I use them for HRT, burns, insect bites, muscle pain, sprained ankle, allergies, sinus infectionsarthritis, headaches, flimsy nails and limp hair, and even the virus that’s been going around recently…..just about everything I can think of! I do go to the doctor for my annual exam but I haven’t used drugs for years. We were recently advised to pick up some of the “dust masks” in bulk and use a drop of pure therapeutic grade essential oil as a precaution against airborne biological pathogens. A special on 48 Hours this week talked about anthrax—tasteless, smell-less, colorless and death within 36 hours. Because I use at least one EO every day, I feel much more protected.

Essential Oils contain virtually all of healing nutrients-- oxygenating molecules, amino acid precursors, coenzyme A factors, trace minerals, enzymes, vitamins, hormones and more. Dr. Jean Valnet, a well known French medical researcher points out that an essential oil literally destroys the anthrax bacillus, the glanders bacillus, staphylococcus, the diptheria bacillus, meningococcus, and Kock's bacillus, which is the bacteria responsible for tuberculous lesions. Dr. Valnet adds that the works of Morel and Rochaix have demonstrated the vapors of another essential oil alone will neutralize the typhus bacillus and staphylococcus in only five minutes and the diphtheric bacillus staphylococcus, the diptheria bacillus, meningococcus, and Kock's bacillus, which is the bacteria responsible for tuberculous lesions. Dr. Valnet adds that the works of Morel and Rochaix have demonstrated the vapors of another essential oil alone will neutralize the typhus bacillus and staphylococcus in only five minutes and the diphtheric bacillus in just twenty minutes. Moreover, infectious pathogens have yet to find a way to become resistant to essential oils, as they do with antibiotics.

-- Julie Corbitt (corbitt@molalla.net), September 20, 2001.