Yep, the miracles of modern medicine are truly impressive. But American has become a drug culture. Travelling in Germany I saw ONE pharmacy. They didn't sell chewing gum, flip-flips and shampoo. You didn't pick up a bottle of aspirin with your film developing.

You can't turn on the TV without some ad trying to convince you that you have a serious condition because you get a little heartburn after eating hot dogs and chili, hawking a trip to the doctor to "cure" you with a little snake oil. Kid has a discipline problem? It MUST be ADHD, not the chronic malnutrition of milkshakes and McDonalds fries. Headaches from chronic dehydration caused by sodas and caffeine? Don't drink more water, just take a painkiller. When your headache comes back, take another.

We don't even respect the power of medicine anymore because it's so overused, and many of those over the counter drugs cause long term liver and kidney problems when taken habitually. It's sad, really. Can you imagine what our great grandparents' reaction to a simple thing like a medicine to cure diarhea would have been?