Grüß Gott, Öterreich! 4/20/2004
One of the reasons I loved studying Germanistik in college was the sheer, unabashed nuttiness of the Germanic peoples. Once when I lived in Frieburg i. Br. I developed a severe bronchial infection from working too many hours in an unbelievably smoky bar. I went to the doctor with my friend Isabel, who ratted me out to her for leaving the house with wet hair. Being a doctor of nutty Germanic extraction, she glared at me, shouted that I was no longer allowed to leave the house with wet hair, and wapped me in the head to punctuate her order.
To my american brain, it all seemed pretty strange, as infections are caused by either bacteria or viruses as I understood it, and that no amount of water droplets clinging to my hair could transmit a disease, but whatever. I went and picked up my incredibly low-strength antibiotics and bottle of Echinacia tincture and went on my way.
Anyway, while browsing the worldwideweird today, as I do, I ran across further evidence of the <a href=”http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_903083.html?menu=”>abby-normalness </a>of germanic medicine. Enjoy.