Wow, just yesterday I was reading about this massacre in my Doctor’s waiting room (Discover Magazine) and was haunted by it....basically nothing has changed since the dawn of civilization. Didn’t think to look at the magazine’s date.
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Believe it or not, things have improved quite a bit. A very interesting book presented here “War Before Civilization”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Before_Civilization
In a nutshell, generally, the further back you go, the more likely that a human’s death is caused by homicide. The authors had to base their case for the most part on hard tissue evidence, which would make the numbers even higher when one considers the homicides carried out which traumatized only soft tissues.
The authors include early examples of what I suppose could be called prototypical socialized medicine. A number of the victims are elderly, showing signs of debilitation and old injuries prior to having their heads bashed in or getting a flint tipped arrow in the back.
This is a very interesting book, probably available for a very modest price on the used book market.
So its only a matter of time until Obamacare returns medicine to its primitive roots?
Death Panel Reviewer #1: "Patient is an elderly male in his mid-fifties with three cavities."
Death Panel Reviewer #2: "Medical estimates indicate the repair procedure will cost approximately $225.00"
Death Panel Reviewer #1:"Our SEIU cost to kill by head-smashing estimate is only $220.00, so bash his head in."
Death Panel Reviewer #2:"OK. Our next patient is suffering from a sprained ankle..."