Sign into an existing account

Been on my mind just how unfit we are compared to the the 18th Century people. On the Oregon trail, people drank from every muddy river and stream they crossed without falling sick. Germs didn't kill them or even slow them down. There were no antibiotics, no medicines worth mentioning, no doctors at all. But cross the prairie and deserts and mountains they did. Thousands of people.

And yet, even then, their horses and cattle, plus all the wild things drank from these same unfiltered rivers. It's all they ever knew and all they ever did. Germs? Germs of all sort were in the water but all the wild animals thrived and the same is true for them to this day.

But not for humans, not at all. Just go drink from any water source. FAFO. I tried drinking from an aquifer upwelling pond in Florida and only got a stomach ache. Swimming in other lakes and rivers and the ocean, I did get water in my mouth but of course spat it out. We just cannot drink from local water sources without dangerous consequences.

So what happened? How did we get so out of touch with nature that we distrust where we drink, what we eat, and need clothing and temp controlled shelter? What made us the weakest of all creatures?

And can we ever go back or want to?