Sombrero Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sombrero - Essay Example They are also a strong symbol of the wearer’s economic and social status and his culture. The history of sombrero hats goes back to Mongolia where they were worn by horse riders back in the 13th century. There are different hypotheses about how sombrero hats originated in Mexico and who made them. Mestizo workers are thought the be the inventors of these hats and they were from native American and European decent who used to work in Mexico and United States. Others prefer that sombrero hats were invented by horse riders who made it part of their uniform. They came from Jalisco capital of Guadalajara. And some think that early cowboys in Texas adopted the Spanish sombrero as a practical solution for the problem of strong sun and heat. Most of the people believe they were made common by the Mexican peasants who used to wear them while working in fields to protect themselves from the extreme heat of south (History of Hats n.p.). Mexican sombrero hats are worn by people belonging to different walks of life now. Traditionally the mariachi folk musicians who wear embroidered outfits, with beading and gold threads wear wide sombreros that are decorated in a manner similar to them. The traditional horsemen called Charros also wear them. The famous dance known as sombrero dance also utilizes a sombrero hat which is known as Jarabe Tapatio (Schmitt n.p.). It moves on a folk song which tells about a love story between a poor Charro peasant and his beloved. In an attempt to win her heart, he tosses his sombrero hat on the ground, which is his most valuable possession, as a gift and as a sign of his seriousness of his love. Thus, she accepts his love and starts a dance on the brim of the sombrero hat. A part from these cultural and traditional uses, sombrero hats are still worn by Mexican peasants in fields. Lately, after becoming the symbol of Mexican heritage, they have become an

Bacterial Meningitis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Bacterial Meningitis - Research Paper Example Bacterial meningitis can occur at any age. However, it is more common among infants, children and young adults. It is also more common in the elderly people. According to WHO (Cited in Ramakrishnana et al, 48) "two thirds of meningitis deaths in low-income Several species of bacteria cause meningitis and affectation with a particular species depends on the host and the setting. Community-acquired meningitis is usually due to Neisseria meningitides Hemophilus influenzae type-B or pneumococcus species (Ramakrishnana et al, 8). Some of these organisms are commensals in the upper respiratory tract of some healthy people (Tunkel, 1268). Listeria monocytogenes is another important cause of bacterial meningitis and it most commonly affects newborns, pregnant women, immunosuppressed and elderly population (Jacewicz, Merck Manual). Other bacteria causing meningitis include Escherichia coli, Hemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, group-B streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus. E.coli and group-B streptococci occur in newborns (Jacewicz, Merck Manual). Pseudomonas infection is more common in the immunosupressed and Staphylococcus infection occurs following injury or surgery. (Jacewicz, Merck Manual) The highest fatality rate is seen in infection due to pneumococcus (Ramakrishnana et al, 48). Certain individuals are at increased risk of developing bacterial meningitis because of their health condition. They are individuals suffering from chronic diseases like ischemic heart disease, chronic liver disease, end-stage renal failure, rheumatoid arthritis, endocrine dysfunction and immune disorders. Intake of immunosuppressants or glucocorticosteroids for immunosupression or cancer treatment also increases the risk of development of bacterial meningitis. Other risk factors include head injury,pneumococcal pneumonia, blood disorders like sickle cell anemia, splenectomy and chronic infections of the upper respiratory system. Bacterial meningitis can