William wrote:
> On Fri, 22 Sep 2006 17:25:01 -0400, Robert Kesterson 
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 22 Sep 2006 15:34:25 -0500, Keith Thomas <[log in to unmask]> 
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Well, no remedy for this cold, but I should point out
>>> that in the Palaeolithic, colds were not a problem.
>>
>> How can we know this?
>>
>
>
> During my winters in the Canadian high Arctic, it was well known that 
> you could only get a cold if someone had come in from the filthy 
> southland. Usually Edmonton, AB.
> IIRC this applied for all infectious diseases.
> Living was quite dense.
>
> William
>
I 'm not from or don't live in Edmonton AB, but Williams comment implies 
that Edmonton is "unusually filthy."  Compared to the pristine north, 
yes all southern cities with greater population densities and warmer 
climates would be a source of infectious  deseases. Edmonton however is 
considered a "gateway" city of the north so yes most individuals 
traveling to the north would have to pass through Edmonton. but that 
doesn't mean that Edmonton is the only "source" or that Edmonton is 
filthy compared to other southern cities. Comparatively speaking 
Edmonton ranks very high in hygiene and aesthetics.

In regards to "white powder" additive in ground beef that William 
referred to, it is common practice for retail butcher outlets to add 
nitrite salts and other anti-bacterial agents etc.,  to prevent E. Coli 
and Salmonella outbreaks. Check out this link for specifics:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/00-022N/IngredGuid.htm