Thanks so much, Rapparree.

I am glad to say that my faith in overbearing pharmaceutical solutions has been restored and the beast of black fever, though snarling and glaring, are being held in abeyance to a much larger degree by the combined forces of (some unpronounceable antibiotic) and (some unpronounceable inhaler). There are definitely side-effects and the sooner I can get through the chemistry experiment the better, but at least the torture has been mitigated.

I've been trawling round websites that talk about using stem-cells as a path to regenerating lungs that are suffering from COPD and/or emphysema. It is downright amazing how many poor souls out there are slowly strangling to death, and in the majority of cases it stems from things that were shoved down their throats, either by parents, Madison Avenue hucksters, or teachers.. The lists are full of people begging to be included in an experimental program, willing to foreswear all claims outright for a chance at being able to breathe well again. Someone should make all the RJ Reynolds people study these missives.