Speaking of Bob Dylan's recent health problems, I received for Christmas the book "Magical Mushrooms, Mischievous Molds: The remarkable story of the fungus kingdom and its impact on human affairs" by George Hudler (1998 Princeton University Press) that contained the following which I quote:

"...singer/ songwriter Bob Dylan was overcome with a hacking cough, chest pains, and general lethargy. Puzzled over the cause of his ill health and frustrated by its intrusion into his busy schedule, he sought the advice of a physician. She also was unable to make a positive diagnosis without ordering a battery of laboratory tests and consulting with other specialists. Meanwhile, Dylan's health deteriorated, his heart began to fail, and he was confined to the intensive care unit of a hospital. The answer to the famed musician's problems, it turned out, was blowin' in the wind, for he had contracted a potentially fatal fungus disease by inhaling airborne spores. After several months of convalescence, he recovered, with long overdue respect for the power of the fungi that lurk in every nook and cranny of the world around us.... a serious case of histoplasmosis...caused inflammation of the sac around his heart."

rich r