Colds, Dogs and Vultures

Firstly, I just want to say how totally annoyed and aggrieved I feel to have a cold when I have never been so hot in my life. How it is possible to get a cold when one is sweating in 34 degrees C with a humidity of 100%? I think the viruses must have been getting tips from the incontinent mosquitoes.

Secondly, it has been very noticeable how many wild dogs there are around. I honestly don't remember there being as many as there are now. Initially, I thought it must be something to do with the general population expansion generating more waste etc for the dogs to eat. But then I heard that there was a disastrous decline in all three indigenous raptors (vultures) since 1998. Once I heard that, I noticed that I have seen none and remember seeing them all the time. At first this decline was attributed to a mystery virus, but now it is believed to be caused by diclofenac in the food chain. Apparently, it was recently introduced into India and Pakistan as treatment for cattle and has quickly become widespread owing to it being quite cheap. Unfortunately, it is toxic to birds, causing renal failure and visceral gout in vultures. This is believed to be the cause of the decline. There is still some uncertainty, however, as it is also potentialy fatal in dogs which have, as the vultures declined, risen accordingly. Also it is believed to be excreted quite quickly from mammals and therefore the cattle would have to have been treated immediately prior to death. Still it's interesting and sad to see their absence. It is causing major problems of waste removal in some parts of the subcontinent and especially for the Parsees, who instead of burial or cremation, depend on vultures to get rid of their dead.