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Fore Tribe Research Paper

1286 Words6 Pages

All humans mourn their dead, but our ways of doing so can vary. Some even took it as far as eating the brains of family members that have passed away. Deep in New Guinea the, Fore tribe had a burial ritual that allowed them to eat brains. Women and children handled and prepared the brain for consumption. The Fore tribe did not know that the ritual was dangerous until an American physician by the name of Carleton Gajdusek discovered a flaw in the ritual. The brains the Fore tribe were eating were infected with Kuru, a deadly disease. Kuru was a misshapen protein that caused holes in the brain. When the Australian government found out out that Kuru was killing off the population, they banned the practice of cannibalism. Since then, the …show more content…

That means the darkest and most powerful magic was used for this diseased. Their burials ritual allowed to eat brains an acquire Kuru. They took plenty of time to mourn their dead. The deceased was publicly displayed. Gifts were given to the family who had suffered the loss of a dead one. The Fore tribe ate brains because they thought it would replenish their youth. Fertility would increase for both plants, animals and humans. By doing this they did not know they were actually harming themselves. Women and children were often tasked with handling the brain. Kuru entered bodies through cuts and sores. If not infected then, they would certainly be infected when they ate it. Women and children mostly ate the brains because of their beliefs in fertility and youth. Kuru stayed on hands and could be caught if touched by infected hand. Men had to be slaughtered to even out the population The lack of medicine involved is remarkable. There is no medicine that can Kuru. Once the protein is infected it can not be turned back, there is no medication that can shape the protein back into what it once was. There is also no medication that can stop the spreading of the

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