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Re: pica
JOHN LANGDON (LANGDON@GANDLF.UINDY.EDU)
Thu, 3 Feb 1994 08:47:16 -0500
In message WP Anderson writes:
> Dear fellow subscribers,
>
> Thanks for the ongoing help, for the references (most
> of which I've been able to locate at our University's
> fine library), and for the ideas, harder to come by.
>
> The chase has so far led from
> a) vomiting in creation myth and
> b) clay in creation myth
> (for both of which I now have plenty of
> material to 'digest', thanks to you) to, now
> c) swallowing, as a creative force, in myth.
*particularly* but not exclusively the
> swallowing of clay and
> d) pica/geophagy - specifically:
> To anyone's knowledge, have studies been done
> relating in *any* way, the widespread
> practice of EARTH-EATING, especially among
> women and particularly pregnant women, and
> the equally widespread occurrence of creation
> MYTHS INVOLVING CLAY and perhaps even the
> swallowing of clay?
>
> As always, references, theories and speculation -
> either wild or considered - warmly welcomed.
>
I have never pursued this area, but I once put an article in my files because I
found it interesting:
DE Vermeer and RE Ferrell, 1985. Nigerian geophagical caly: a traditional
antidiarrheal pharmaceutical. Science 227:634-636.
also a follow-up letter to the editor, Science 228:1040.
JOHN H. LANGDON email LANGDON@GANDLF.UINDY.EDU
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY FAX (317) 788-3569
UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS PHONE (317) 788-3447
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46227
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