Tuesday, July 14, 2020

How Long Does Codeine Stay in Your System

How Long Does Codeine Stay in Your System Addiction Drug Use Opioids Print How Long Does Codeine Stay in Your System? Codeine in Your Blood, Urine, Hair, Saliva By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on October 06, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on November 25, 2019 More in Addiction Drug Use Opioids Cocaine Heroin Marijuana Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery In This Article Table of Contents Expand Effects Duration Detection Times Elimination Symptoms of Overdose Getting Help View All Back To Top Codeine is a prescription opiate medication used for mild to moderate pain relief?? and to reduce coughing. Knowing how long it remains in your system can ensure that you get the needed effects while reducing the risk of an overdose by using  the dosage and timing recommended by your doctor. Codeine is also found in Tylenol #3, Tylenol with codeine, Robitussin A-C, Fiorinal with codeine, Triacin-C, Tuaistra XR, Codate, Codophos syrup, Promethazine with codeine cough syrup, and other formulations. Street names include Captain Cody, Sizzurp, and Purple Drank. Codeine is a controlled substance and its use is regulated by the Controlled Substances Act. It is classified as a Schedule II, III, IV, and V drug depending on its formulation and use because of its high potential for misuse and physical dependence. As an opiate, codeine is detected in screening tests for drugs of abuse. If you have been taking a prescription medication that contains codeine, its important to let your employer or a relevant person know if youre subject to an employment or forensic drug screen. Verywell / Cindy Chung   The Risks of Opioid Pain Medications How Long Does It Take to Feel Effects? After ingestion, it usually takes about an hour to begin feeling the effects of the drug. Codeine changes the way your nervous system and brain detect pain and slows down the activity in your brain that creates the cough reaction, which is why its used for both pain relief and as a cough suppressant. Codeine is easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and is distributed to different tissues throughout your body. Its often provided in combination products with Tylenol (acetaminophen), aspirin, Soma (carisoprodol), and promethazine, as well as many cough and cold medications. These combinations may affect the dosing, timing and ways your doctor will recommend its use, so be sure to follow your doctor or pharmacists directions exactly. Side effects of codeine include: LightheadednessDrowsinessHeadache??Mood changesStomach painConstipation??Difficulty urinating How Long Does Codeine Last? Codeine has a half-life between two-and-a-half to three hours. This means that it takes about three hours for half of a dose of codeine to be eliminated from your system. Codeine is primarily metabolized by the liver. The break-down of the drug results in the production of metabolites including codeine-6-glucuronide, norcodeine, and morphine.   While the half-life of codeine is relatively short, its metabolites stay in your system longer. Many drug tests screen for these metabolites, which means that codeine can be detected in your system for up to three days on a standard urine test. The pain-relieving effects of codeine usually last for around three to four hours depending on the dose taken. Urine About 90%  of the drug is eliminated by your kidneys in urine.?? Urine screenings are the most commonly used drug tests in many settings because they are relatively easy and cost-effective to administer. A standard urine screen tests for a range of drugs including opiates such as codeine. A positive result on a urine test usually suggests that an individual has used codeine, morphine, or heroin (which are all opiates) in the past one to three days. Blood Blood tests are used less frequently because they are more invasive and costly than urine tests. However, they may be utilized in situations where a person is unable to provide a urine sample or to confirm an unexpected positive urine test result. The window for detecting codeine on a blood test is only 24 hours. Saliva Saliva testing can also be a convenient option, with codeine detectable in oral fluid for up to four days after ingestion. However, a number of factors can impact sample collection, including low levels of oral fluid due to a range of physiological factors, including side effects of the drug itself.  Research also suggests that chewing gum or eating candy containing citric acid can significantly lower the levels of codeine found in saliva. Hair Codeine use can be detected by a hair follicle test for a longer period of up to three months. However, use that occurred within the last two to three weeks just prior to the test will not be detectable. False Positive Testing Eating foods that contain poppy seeds can trigger a false-positive test result for opiates. Poppy seeds contain trace amounts of morphine and codeine. While not enough to produce the same effects as prescription opiates, research has shown that consuming just one poppy seed muffin or two poppy seed bagels is enough to show up on a standard drug screen.?? Additional analysis using methods such as mass spectroscopy can sometimes help differentiate between true opiate use and poppy seed consumption. Certain medications can also trigger a false-positive test result on drug screening tests. Verapamil (a calcium channel blocker used to treat hypertension), diphenhydramine (an antihistamine commonly found in allergy and cold medications), and doxylamine (an antihistamine often found in allergy medications and sleep aids) are all known to cause false-positives for opiates on enzyme immunoassay (EIA) drug tests.   Let the testing lab know if you have eaten anything containing poppy seeds or if you are on any medications that might affect your test results. Factors That Affect Detection Time How long codeine is detectable in your body after a dose depends on a variety of factors, including which kind of drug test is being used.?? Other variables include: How often you use the medicationThe dosage you takeYour weightYour ageYour metabolism??Your hydration levelYour level of activityOther health conditions you may have Because each individual will have different variables, its almost impossible to determine the exact time codeine will show up on a drug test. Drug testing may be used in a variety of situations and settings including screenings for employment, sports organization participation, monitoring opiate use, and legal and forensic purposes. How to Get Codeine Out of Your System There are some things that may slightly increase the speed that codeine is metabolized and excreted from the body. The first step is to stop taking the drug, although this may be difficult if you have become physically dependent. Always talk to your doctor before you stop taking a prescription containing codeine in order to avoid unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor may want to slowly taper you off the medication or switch you to another type of pain reliever. Once you have safely stopped taking your medication, make sure that you stay well-hydrated, eat healthily, and get regular physical activity as these lifestyle modifications may help speed up the rate at which the drug is cleared from your system. Symptoms of Overdose With a half-life of only three hours, half of the dosage taken would be metabolized and eliminated from the body within three hours. Codeine medications are usually taken every four to six hours to maintain a therapeutic level. It is important to take codeine exactly as prescribed because taking more before your previous dose has metabolized or taking a larger dose than youre supposed to can increase the risk of an overdose. Symptoms of a codeine overdose can include: Bluish-colored fingernails and lipsBreathing problemsCold, clammy skinComaConfusionDizzinessDrowsinessFatigueLightheadednessLoss of consciousnessLow blood pressureMuscle twitchesTiny pupilsSpasms of the stomach and intestinesWeaknessWeak pulse Some of the above symptoms can occur even when you take codeine exactly as prescribed. If you suspect someone has overdosed on codeine, call 911 immediately or the national toll-free Poison Help hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Understanding Opioid Overdoses Important Precautions Codeine should not be taken with alcohol or other drugs that can affect your respiration rate, such as benzodiazepines.?? Examples of benzodiazepines include Klonopin (clonazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), Valium (diazepam), and Xanax (alprazolam). Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications youre taking, whether theyre over-the-counter, prescription, vitamins, supplements, or herbal remedies. Due to serious risks of slowed breathing and death in children, codeine medications are now restricted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for children under the age of 12 years. Codeine medications are also not recommended for teens between the ages of 12 and 18 years who are obese or who have breathing problems such as sleep apnea or severe lung disease. The FDA warns against the use of codeine medicines by breastfeeding mothers, citing risks to the infant like excess sleepiness and breathing problems. Getting Help Codeine is an opioid pain reliever, which means it can be habit-forming. Taking more codeine than prescribed or taking it longer than directed can increase the risk of developing a dependence on the drug. Codeine has a high risk of physical dependence even when you take it exactly as prescribed. Unfortunately, people often do not recognize the signs that they are becoming dependent on the drug. Some signs that can indicate a problem include: Developing tolerance, meaning you need higher doses of the drug to feel the same effectsFeeling preoccupied with getting more of your medicationFeeling compelled to take the drugExperiencing symptoms of withdrawal when you stop taking the drug Some of the common symptoms of codeine withdrawal may include: IrritabilityRunny noseChills and sweatsRapid heartbeatMuscle achesDifficulty sleepingPoor appetiteNausea and vomiting If you or a loved one has an addiction to codeine, its important to get help to treat it. Talk to your doctor about your treatment options, which may include over-the-counter medications to relieve withdrawal symptoms. For more severe symptoms, your doctor may suggest other drugs that are designed to treat opiate-withdrawal including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Your doctor can also refer you to a mental health professional or addiction treatment facility for longer-term treatment. You can also call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations (SAMHSA) National Helpline to get free, confidential information on substance use recovery and referrals to treatment clinics at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Treating Opioid Addiction

Thursday, May 21, 2020

The Causes of Global Warming - 2456 Words

Global Warming Global warming is a phrase that has been used in recent history that describes Earth’s surface temperature being warmed. Throughout history, there has been three global warming’s. They occurred in 1850; from about 1860-1880, 1915-1945, and 1975-1978 (see graph). The current warming was thought to have been generated by the discharge by man of carbon dioxide. All three of these periods of warming were divided into a period of universal cooling. The warming/cooling cycles, and their conjoined change in rain patterns are called climate change. Climate change has been happening for the past 11,000 years since the last ice age. Research has recently shown that this abrupt curve is probably a product of what is known as the â€Å"heat island effect† rather than be just called global warming. Overall, at its simplest, â€Å"climate change†- is simply known as global warming and â€Å"climate disruption.† Reason it is called a climatic disrup tion is because a phenomenon occurs that cause’s weather arrangement and temperatures too change to quickly and unknowingly on a universal scale. Global Warming is an occurrence of increasing average air temperatures close to the Earth’s exterior for over the past two centuries. Since the 20th century, weather scientists have assembled studies of different weather occurrences such as; temperatures, rain, and different kinds of storms. Also studies on the Earth’s ocean currents and the atmosphere’s overall chemical arrangement. ThisShow MoreRelatedThe Causes Of Global Warming Essay1705 Words   |  7 Pages Global warming has been for decades the center of discussion between intergovernmental agencies and world leaders, each forum aiming to discuss the causes of the global warming. Scientists have been in the front lie to figure out the causes of the global warming. The hurdles and the efforts to discern the causes of the global warming are to learn ways to counter the causes so as to prevent the earth from vanquishing in the detrimental effects of the global warming. Additionally, the effort to learnRead MoreThe Cause For Global Warming1279 Words   |  6 Pages2015 The Cause for Global Warming Global warming refers to the drastic change in climate. But who are the ones that cause global warming? Is it the people of earth or is it just the natural change in climate as the world ages? People claim that it’s just a natural change in climate, that the people have only a little influence on the climate. Others say that we the people are the cause for the dramatic change in climate with the greenhouse gases we emit into the atmosphere. Global warming is indeedRead MoreThe Causes for Global Warming1538 Words   |  7 Pagesof global climate over long periods of time. Climate model projections made by the US Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) show that, recently, global temperature has increased. This increase in temperature is referred to as global warming. One of the main causes of global warming is greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere that absorb solar radiation to keep the planet warm. These gases have increased, so more solar r adiation is trapped inside raising global temperaturesRead MoreCauses of Global Warming816 Words   |  3 Pagesatmosphere. This causes the air on Earth to contain higher kinetic energy due to the fact that more gas particles from the natural gases are colliding with the air particles. The higher kinetic energy results in higher temperature and heating of Earth’s surface. The heating of the Earth’s surface causes many of the world problems that we have today. As more and more factories and industries produce gases that pollute the world, they also increase the effects of global warming. Gas particles fromRead MoreCauses of Global Warming525 Words   |  2 PagesHave you ever thought of what is the cause to global warming? Some people still happen to believe that global warming is a made up story, which is preventing humans from advancing. While others might believe that global warming is realistic and is a man made problem. Global warming is sooner or later going t o impact you in a major way that can even change your life style. We the people need to understand that global warming can result in harmful consequences to the earth that one cannot even imagineRead MoreGlobal Warming and Its Causes1894 Words   |  8 Pagesdestroyed property of unknown value in the New Orleans region. This is a scenario that we could experience in the near future should we continue to ignore calls to address global warming issues. Should such a scenario be replicated on a global scale, the consequences would be devastating. Global Warming: An Overview Global warming according to Farrar and Mastrandrea can simply be defined as a continuing increase in Earths overall temperature (7). This increase in temperature has over time beenRead MoreGlobal Warming : Causes And Effects905 Words   |  4 Pagesindependent variables that are contributing to the cause of a problem the world is currently faced with, global warming. What is global warming? Well, global warming is a rise in the Earth s average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect (which I will talk more about.) Which is when our ozone layer has a hole which gradually increases, and increases heat from the sun. This causes major problems such as the polar caps meltingRead MoreGlobal Warming : Causes And Mitigation1319 Words   |  6 Pages Global Warming: Cause and Mitigation Global Warming: Cause and Mitigation Introduction The topic of global warming has received a lot of attention for the past couple of decades. The massive impacts and risks posed by this phenomenon on humans and environment have been severe, thus calling for swift attention. Basically, globalization refers to the rise of average temperature of oceans and earth’s atmosphere. Global warming is a reality which has faced the human society for over aRead MoreHumans Cause Global Warming1142 Words   |  5 PagesGlobal Warming Debate Today we are debating the important topic of global warming. As the affirmative team, we strongly believe that global warming is caused by the actions of humans. But this is not just a belief, this is a fact. Global warming, by definition, is a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth s atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants. The greenhouse effect is the trapping of theRead MoreThe Potential Cause Of Global Warming1689 Words   |  7 PagesThe potential causes of global warming are debated about by many scientists. Many scientists believe that global warming is natural while others believe it to be caused by mostly humans. Global warming may be completely natural for many reasons. First, Earth tends to go through cycles of heating and cooling and this wouldn’t be the first time our planet has begun to heat up unexpectedly. Second, nobody can directly correlate humans wit h global warming, we may emit CO2 but that doesn’t mean we caused

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Criminal Justice System Of The United States - 839 Words

The criminal justice system, in the United States, is fragmented with regards to the many different courts which exist, and the roles that they play in the administration of justice. Before any police officer can make an arrest, or any court try a case, there must be laws to enforce. Law on the books refers to the written law and rules society must live by in order to be acceptable members of that society (Neubauer Fradella, 2008). This differs from the law in action, which is how those laws are actually enacted, and enforced with regards to the real people of any given society. When considering the law on the books, we must look at it for what it is, and that is an imperfect set of rules, that were constructed with little or no thought as to how they would affect the real people in society (Neubauer Fradella, 2008). Legislative bodies, regulatory agencies, and courts often create laws, which are so confusing, that the general citizen does not stand a chance of understanding them. The law on the book is what the legislative body, who enacted the law, thought to be correct at the time, and in their opinion, these laws are needed to govern society. Recent personal experience with the legislative process in Mississippi shows that the laws on the book, may not be what the people want or need. These laws are passed by the legislative political party, who has the majority vote in that body, and often times, no consideration to how they are enforced or how they affect theShow MoreRelatedThe United States And The Criminal Justice System Essay1662 Words   |  7 PagesThe United States considers itself to be the best country in the world. This sense of nationalism is present because of the country’s history of opportunities and their emphasis on the power of their people. Safety is a crucial aspect that peopleconsider when choosing where to live. The United States provides their citizenswith national safety throughthe enforcement of their criminal justice syst em.As a result of their intentions of maintaining a secure living environment, the United States has theRead MoreCriminal Justice System Of The United States1722 Words   |  7 Pages  Criminal justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts. Those accused of crime have protections against abuse of investigatory and prosecution powers. Goals In the United States, criminal justice policy has been guided by the 1967 President s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice, which issuedRead MoreThe United States Criminal Justice System Essay1132 Words   |  5 Pagespunished for a crime. The film focuses on racism in the United States’ criminal justice system. According to DuVernay, the part of the 13th Amendment that says â€Å"unless you are being punished for a crime† is a loophole that has been used to allow slavery to continue in the early days during reconstruction and even now. This loophole coupled with the criminalization of the black man has led to mass incarceration of minorities. The United States which has only five percent of the world’s population butRead MoreThe Criminal Justice Systems And The United States1169 Words   |  5 PagesThe criminal justice systems in Bolivia and the United States have different structures with some similarities. I was born in La Paz Boliv ia and we will be taking a look into Bolivia and the U.S’s governmental and criminal justice systems. Bolivia is a republic with a democratic government. The U.S. also has a democratic government. The Napoleonic code (civil code) and Spanish law compose Bolivia’s legal system, whereas the US is based on common law. The U.S. and Bolivia may have their similaritiesRead MoreThe United States Criminal Justice System1670 Words   |  7 PagesThe United States Criminal Justice System is an extremely complex, but yet extremely important part of the United States. The criminal justice system is defined as â€Å"the set of agencies and processes established by governments to control crime and impose penalties on those who violate laws). Although there are many different groups of people that make up the criminal justice system, the two main and most discussed the state division or the federal division. The state division of the criminal justiceRead MoreCriminal Justice System And The United States2244 Words   |  9 PagesAbstract The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Many failed policies have led us to the issues we have today. Policies such as America’s â€Å"get tough on crime† failed us and put us into a bigger hole than we already were in. Our criminal justice system needs to be evaluated and failed policies and procedures must be thrown out. It is a time for a reform for our criminal justice system. However, we must first address these policies and procedures that led us to where weRead MoreThe United States Criminal Justice System2824 Words   |  12 PagesThe United States criminal justice system is essential to the functioning of American society. A central component to the criminal justice system in our country is the U.S. courts. The U.S. courts uphold those rights guaranteed to U.S. citizens under the Constitution while also enforcing the laws and precedents set forth by the United States government. Over the course of the last several months I have b een given the opportunity to sit in and observe the workings and proceedings that take placeRead MoreThe United States Criminal Justice System1827 Words   |  8 Pages The United States criminal justice system has failed to rehabilitate criminals. Even after being penalized for their crimes, prisoners continue to commit crimes without learning that what they did was wrong from being incarcerated and are sent back to prison. Jails are set up to aid those imprisoned by helping them obtain skills that will hopefully reduce future incidences and allow them to act like the citizens they should be. However, punishing criminals is not as productive as many thinkRead MoreThe United States The Criminal Justice System856 Words   |  4 Pages In the United States the criminal justice system does not always create policies that affect everyone equally. There are many policies that seem to target a specific group of people, whether this is intentional or not is beside the point. Th e important thing is to change the criminal justice system in order to stop race disparities. Marc Mauer in his lecture speaks of the reason for the disparity between races when it comes to the incarceration rate, as well as steps that can be taken in orderRead MoreThe United States Criminal Justice System Essay1463 Words   |  6 PagesThe United States criminal justice system can be described as flawed in many ways. Some of these flaws have a larger impact on the people of this country than others. Two of the largest problems we have currently revolve around the issues of wrongful convictions and prosecutorial misconduct. The whole criminal justice system revolves around making sure people follow the laws put in place, and if they do not punish them for their wrongdoing. This system is also about affording the same rights to every

Dynamic Security Free Essays

This session will help you with; POP Describe the physical, dynamic and procedural security considerations in a custodial environment CEDI Evaluate the need for security and control in a custodial environment Objectives C]III students will be able to; C]State what is meant by the term ‘Dynamic Sec rite’ C]Discuss the type of information that could be gained from Prison intelligence Comes students will be able to; C]List the benefits of a good prison regime Recap on Physical Security C]What is the difference between an Open or Closed orison in terms of security? Licensed is completely locked C]Open allows prisoners out for work/weekend home visits Estate the difference between a Category A prisoner and a Category D prisoner C]Category A – Pose threat to society, maximum security, crimes such as murder, rape or terrorism. Logicality D – Can be trusted in open conditions and sometime allowed out. Low risk. We will write a custom essay sample on Dynamic Security or any similar topic only for you Order Now What does dynamic security mean? Surveillance – Covert and overt Clientà ¨le’s gathering L]Monitoring everyday activities Prison definition of Dynamic Sec rite C] The process of looking for patterns n intelligence, close monitoring of gang members, sharing of information, close relationships with external agencies and partnerships to share intelligence, along with tackling the drug and violence issues. Areas for concern C]Visits – family or solicitors Commitment of prisoners for work, education, C]Mail – outgoing and incoming Phone calls monitored Group work Consider what information can be gathered from monitoring prisoners in these areas; C]Visits C]Movement of prisoners for work, education, Phone calls Question Elf you were sent to prison what would be your biggest concern? How to cite Dynamic Security, Papers

Friday, April 24, 2020

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Essays - Pediatrics, Infancy, RTT

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Imagine the thought of a mother going in to her child's room and kissing her baby good night. Expecting to hear the gentle breath of her baby all that she hears is silence. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the ?sudden death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history? (Willinger, et al., 1991). More children die of SIDS in a year that all who die of cancer, heart disease, pneumonia, child abuse, AIDS, cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy combined. Many researchers now believe that babies who die of SIDS are born with one or more conditions that make them especially vulnerable to stresses that occur in the normal life of an infant, including both internal and external influences. SIDS occurs in all types of families and is largely indifferent to race or socioeconomic level. SIDS is unexpected, usually occurring in otherwise apparently healthy infants from 1 month to 1 year of age. Most deaths from SIDS occur by the end of the sixth month, with the greatest number taking place between 2 and 4 months of age. A SIDS death occurs quickly and is often associated with sleep, with no signs of suffering. More deaths are reported in the fall and winter and there is a 60-to-40-percent male-to-female ratio. A death is diagnoses as SIDS only after all other alternatives have been elim inated: SIDS is a diagnosis of exclusion (Willinger, et al., 1991). Risk factors are those environmental and behavioral influences that can provoke ill health. Any risk factor may be a clue to finding the cause of a disease, but risk factors in and of themselves are not causes. Researchers now know that the mother's health and behavior during her pregnancy and the baby's health before birth seem to influence the occurrence of SIDS, but these variables are not reliable in predicting how, when, why, or if SIDS will occur. Maternal risk factors include : Maternal age less than 20 years Poor prenatal care Low weight gain Anemia Use of illegal drugs History of Sexually transmitted diseases Urinary tract infection These factors, which often may be subtle and undetected, suggest that SIDS may Somehow associated with a harmful prenatal environment. After birth, there also are numerous risk factors which can significantly influence the chance of SIDS. These include such things as: (Corr, et al., 1991) Sleeping position Crib and bedding materials Breast feeding By definition, the causes of SIDS are not known. Attempts to explain the sudden and unexpected death of an infant adequately have been difficult since earliest times. Initially, if a baby died suddenly and unexpectedly in a bed shared with adults, it was thought to be due to an adult rolling on to the infant during sleep. This was called ?over-laying' (Goyco, et al., 1990). Later, it was suggested that babies may have choked on something or that death was caused by prenatal neglect. It is clear now that in most cased none of these explanations was correct~that they were, in all probability, the victims of what is now known as SIDS (Goyco, et al., 1990). No consistent warning signs occur that might alert us to the risk of SIDS. Sometimes the infant was not feeding so well on the day he or she died, or there may have been symptoms of a slight cold or tummy upset (Goyco, et al., 1990). The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reported that, in 1988 in the United States, 5,476 infants under 1 year of age died from SIDS; in 1989, the number of SIDS deaths was 5,634 (NCHS, 1990, 1992). However, other sources estimate that the number of SIDS in this country each year may actually be closer to 7,000 (Goyco and Beckerman, 1990). The larger estimate represents additional cases that are unreported. Then considering the overall number of live births each year, SIDS remains the leading cause of death in the United States among infants between 1 month and 1 year of age and second only to congenital anomalies as the leading overall cause of death for all infants less than 1 year of age

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Colossus Of Rhodes essays

Colossus Of Rhodes essays In 408 B.C. the city of Rhodes was built, on the island, of Rhodes. The city was made to fit well with the best natural harbor on the island. It was an important economic center in the ancient world. Located just off the southwestern tip of Asia Minor, about where the Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean. In 357 B.C. it was conquered by Mausolus of Halicarnassus, whose tomb is also one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. In 340, it fell into Persian hands. Alexander the Great conquered it in 332 B.C. When he died, many men wanted to be king, but one was never really chosen. Soon after Alexanders death, Demetrius attacked the city with an army of 40,000 men; more than the entire population of Rhodes. He had 2 great super towers made to destroy the city army of Rhodes. But they defeated Demetrius by flooding a trench outside the walls, which stuck the heavy tower in the mud. To celebrate this victory, they decided to make a huge statue of the god Helios. They melted bronze from Demetrius war machines. They used the super tower Demetrius had left behind as the scaffolding for the project. According to a noted historian the Colossus took 12 years to build. Some other historians place the start of the work in 304 B.C.. The statue of the god Helios, was one hundred and ten feet high, and stood on a pedestal that was fifty feet high. Its been popularly pictured spanning the harbor entrance so that ships passed beneath it. This of course, is not correct, it was actually posed in a traditional Greek matter; nude, wearing a spiked crown, shading his eyes with his right hand, and holding a cloak in his left. If it were spanning the harbor, they would have been forced to close the harbor to make it, which would shut down their economy. Some people call the Statue of Liberty, the New Colossus. There IS a reason to this, the statue of Helios, and the Statue of Liberty, are the same size. The Statue of Liber...

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Spain and the New Laws of 1542

Spain and the New Laws of 1542 The â€Å"New Laws† of 1542 were a series of laws and regulations approved by the King of Spain in November of 1542 to regulate the Spaniards who were enslaving the natives in the Americas, particularly in Peru. The laws were extremely unpopular in the New World and directly led to a civil war in Peru. The furor was so great that eventually King Charles, fearing that he would lose his new colonies entirely, was forced to suspend many of the more unpopular aspects of the new legislation. Conquest of the New World The Americas had been discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus: a papal bull in 1493 divided the newly-discovered lands between Spain and Portugal. Settlers, explorers, and conquistadors of all sorts immediately began heading to the colonies, where they tortured and killed the natives by the thousands to take their lands and wealth. In 1519, Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico: about fifteen years later Francisco Pizarro defeated the Inca Empire in Peru. These native empires had much gold and silver and the men who participated became very wealthy. This, in turn, inspired more and more adventurers to come to the Americas in the hopes of joining the next expedition that would conquer and loot a native kingdom. The Encomienda System With the major native empires in Mexico and Peru in ruins, the Spanish had to put a new system of government in place. The successful conquistadors and colonial officials used the encomienda system. Under the system, an individual or family was given lands, which generally had natives living on them already. A sort of deal was implied: the new owner was responsible for the natives: he would see to their instruction in Christianity, their education and their safety. In return, the natives would supply food, gold, minerals, wood or whatever valuable commodity could be extracted from the land. The encomienda lands would pass from one generation to the next, allowing the families of the conquistadors to set themselves up like local nobility. In reality, the encomienda system was little more than slavery by another name: the natives were forced to work in fields and mines, often until they literally dropped dead. Las Casas and the Reformers Some opposed the ghastly abuses of the native population. As early as 1511 in Santo Domingo, a friar named Antonio de Montesinos asked the Spanish by what right had they invaded, enslaved, raped and robbed a people who had done them no harm. Bartolomà © de Las Casas, a Dominican priest, began asking the same questions. Las Casas, an influential man, had the ear of the king, and he told of the needless deaths of millions of Indians- who were, after all, Spanish subjects. Las Casas was quite persuasive and King Charles of Spain finally decided to do something about the murders and torture being carried out in his name. The New Laws The â€Å"New Laws,† as the legislation came to be known, provided for sweeping changes in Spain’s colonies. The natives were to be considered free, and the owners of the encomiendas could no longer demand free labor or services from them. They did need to pay a certain amount of tribute, but any extra work was to be paid for. Natives were to be treated fairly and given expanded rights. Encomiendas granted to members of the colonial bureaucracy or the clergy were to be returned to the crown immediately. The clauses of the New Laws most disturbing to the Spanish colonists were the ones that declared forfeiture of encomiendas or native laborers by those who had participated in civil wars (which was nearly all of the Spaniards in Peru) and a provision that made encomiendas not hereditary: all encomiendas would revert to the crown upon the death of the current holder. Revolt and Repeal Reaction to the New Laws was swift and drastic: all over the Spanish Americas, conquistadors and settlers were enraged. Blasco Nuà ±ez Vela, the Spanish Viceroy, arrived in the New World in early 1544 and announced that he intended to enforce the New Laws. In Peru, where the former conquistadors had the most to lose, the settlers rallied behind Gonzalo Pizarro, last of the Pizarro brothers (Hernando Pizarro was still alive but in prison in Spain). Pizarro raised an army, declaring that he would defend the rights that he and so many others had fought so hard for. At the battle of Aà ±aquito in January of 1546, Pizarro defeated Viceroy Nà ºÃƒ ±ez Vela, who died in battle. Later, an army under Pedro de la Gasca defeated Pizarro in April of 1548: Pizarro was executed. Pizarro’s revolution was put down, but the revolt had shown the King of Spain that the Spaniards in the New World (and Peru in particular) were serious about protecting their interests. Although the king felt that morally, the New Laws were the right thing to do, he feared that Peru would declare itself an independent kingdom (many of Pizarro’s followers had urged him to do just that). Charles listened to his advisors, who told him that he had better seriously tone down the New Laws or he risked losing parts of his new empire. The New Laws were suspended and a watered-down version was passed in 1552. Legacy The Spanish had a mixed record in the Americas as a colonial power. The most horrendous abuses occurred in the colonies: natives were enslaved, murdered, tortured and raped in the conquest and early part of the colonial period and later they were disenfranchised and excluded from power. Individual acts of cruelty are too numerous and dreadful to list here. Conquistadors like Pedro de Alvarado and Ambrosius Ehinger reached levels of cruelty that are nearly inconceivable to modern sentiments. As horrible as the Spanish were, there were a few enlightened souls among them, such as Bartolomà © de Las Casas and Antonio de Montesinos. These men fought diligently for native rights in Spain. Las Casas produced books on the subjects of Spanish abuses and was not shy about denouncing powerful men in the colonies. King Charles I of Spain, like Ferdinand and Isabela before him and Philip II after him, had his heart in the right place: all of these Spanish rulers demanded that the natives be treated fairly. In practice, however, the goodwill of the king was difficult to enforce. There was also an inherent conflict: the King wanted his native subjects to be happy, but the Spanish crown grew ever more dependent on the steady flow of gold and silver from the colonies, much of which was produced by slave labor in the mines. As for the New Laws, they marked an important shift in Spanish policy. The age of conquest was over: bureaucrats, not conquistadors, would hold power in the Americas. Stripping the conquistadors of their encomiendas meant nipping the burgeoning noble class in the bud. Although King Charles suspended the New Laws, he had other means of weakening the powerful New World elite and within a generation or two most of the encomiendas had reverted to the crown anyway.