There was once a very influential farmer in a remote part of China, who had
a problem. His chickens were losing their feathers and dying. He sought the
counsel of the two wisest men in town – Hing, who was scientist, and Ming,
who was a sorcerer.
Hing, who has had many advanced course hours in poultry science, consulted
the classic text in poultry disease, “Everything You Always Wanted to Know
About Diseases of Chickens, But Were Afraid to Ask.” In the book Hing found
a reference to the report of a study showing that feeding the chickens with
an infusion of gum tree leaves is often a remedy for chickens losing their
feathers.
Meanwhile Ming read obscure writings of ancient wise men, he meditated, and
he even examined the entrails of a pig. Getting no inspiration he used his
old standby, reading tea leaves. In a spark of discovery, it comes to him
that an infusion of gum tree leaves is the cure.
So the two wise men report back to the influential Chinese farmer. Ming
says, “As gum sticks to tables and chairs, so shall an infusion of gum tree
leaves make feathers stick to chickens.” Hing agrees, saying “Studies show
that infusions of gum tree leaves alleviate feather loss in chickens.”
The influential Chinese farmer is ecstatic, for the two wisest men in town
are of a single mind. He quickly follows their recommendation.
It does not work. His chickens lost feathers and died.
Moral of the Story: “All of Hing’s courses and all of Ming’s ken couldn’t
get gum tea to feather a hen.”
(I warned you it was bad)
~~~
Dr Bob Griffin
bob@grif.net www.grif.net
“Jesus Knows Me, This I Love!”
