Dr. Donald Abrams, a renowned psychiatrist lately had been seeing new patients from all walks of life. He wondered whether the rapid implementation of latest technologies was making us socially lonely creating mental health issues. However following his medical training, he would probe his new patients about any negative development in their recent professional, marital, and financial situations to pinpoint any trigger. He would also ask them about their family-history to unearth any genetic link. Finally, he would instruct them to recollect from their memories any early trauma that might have stayed latent, but now reappeared to haunt them anew. And he was always intrigued hearing from his patients one or two such episode from a very early period, while they couldn’t remember any other event from that same period. To him, a human brain still remains a mystery black box when it comes to consolidation of memory: what stays back and what gets erased!
Late September, after attending an international conference in India, Dr. Abrams would decide to stop in Israel for a visit to the Dead Sea, a natural wonder. In reality a lake, this water-body below the sea-level, has been supersaturated with salt, converting the lake-floor covered with crystallized salt-balls, while the high density of salt-water allows one to simply float without drowning. As he was getting ready to walk into the water to float on his back, he was warned not to allow any water to get into his eyes. Besides common salt, the lake-water also contains several other natural chemicals. Floating on his back, he began to enjoy a gorgeous sunny day, while appreciating the beauty of distant ancient mountain-range. Then, accidentally Dr. Abrams splashed his floating right hand allowing a few drops to enter into his both eyes. He immediately felt a strong burning sensation, nothing like he could identify with. He decided to close his eyes and float, hoping to get used to it soon.
Then a lightening of memory struck him. In late ’70-s, he was taking part in a protest march against the country’s unjust involvement in a faraway war. Suddenly, violence broke out. The law-enforcement personnel charged them with batons, while firing eye-burning tear gas. As they were running away from the assault, one of his friends fell on the ground with eyes closed due to the pain. Later they would learn that the chemical Bromine in the tear-gas caused the burning sensation. But, Dr. Abrams didn’t stop to help the friend escaping the brutality. The friend was arrested, prosecuted for disorderly conduct, and put into prison creating a permanent black mark on his record. Guilt started to descend on him. He remained floated with his eyes still burning, not being able to forgive himself for that event of forty years ago.
Later, back in his hotel room, he did an online search. He learned that among many chemicals dissolved in the water of the Dead Sea, most pungent one is Bromine!
Late September, after attending an international conference in India, Dr. Abrams would decide to stop in Israel for a visit to the Dead Sea, a natural wonder. In reality a lake, this water-body below the sea-level, has been supersaturated with salt, converting the lake-floor covered with crystallized salt-balls, while the high density of salt-water allows one to simply float without drowning. As he was getting ready to walk into the water to float on his back, he was warned not to allow any water to get into his eyes. Besides common salt, the lake-water also contains several other natural chemicals. Floating on his back, he began to enjoy a gorgeous sunny day, while appreciating the beauty of distant ancient mountain-range. Then, accidentally Dr. Abrams splashed his floating right hand allowing a few drops to enter into his both eyes. He immediately felt a strong burning sensation, nothing like he could identify with. He decided to close his eyes and float, hoping to get used to it soon.
Then a lightening of memory struck him. In late ’70-s, he was taking part in a protest march against the country’s unjust involvement in a faraway war. Suddenly, violence broke out. The law-enforcement personnel charged them with batons, while firing eye-burning tear gas. As they were running away from the assault, one of his friends fell on the ground with eyes closed due to the pain. Later they would learn that the chemical Bromine in the tear-gas caused the burning sensation. But, Dr. Abrams didn’t stop to help the friend escaping the brutality. The friend was arrested, prosecuted for disorderly conduct, and put into prison creating a permanent black mark on his record. Guilt started to descend on him. He remained floated with his eyes still burning, not being able to forgive himself for that event of forty years ago.
Later, back in his hotel room, he did an online search. He learned that among many chemicals dissolved in the water of the Dead Sea, most pungent one is Bromine!
