Published: August 1, 1997
To the Editor:
The seemingly primitive 2,000-year-old discourse from the Dead Sea scroll known as the ”Words of the Sage to the Sons of the Dawn” on the need to destroy a house if mildew appeared struck a tragically familiar note (”After 50 Stormy Years, Rays of Light Now Fall on Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls,” news article, July 27).
Recent epidemiologic studies have shown that molds like Stachybotrys atra are not only a cause of modern indoor air pollution but can also be a deadly airborne hazard. As you reported last Jan. 24, Stachybotrys atra has been associated with the deaths of nine children in Cleveland.
The mold is a common fungal contaminant that has been postulated by Dr. John S. Marr, the undersigned, as the cause of the 10th plague inflicted upon the ancient Egyptians, allowing the Jewish people to flee Pharaoh’s bondage. The 10th plague of Egypt inexplicably killed the eldest Egyptians and their livestock but spared the Jews living in the Hebrew land of Goshen.
Perhaps they were divinely guided to live away from the humidity of Memphis, the ancient capital, and to prepare their breads without leavening, thus preparing them during their exodus from another potentially deadly mold, Saccharomyces: toxic yeast.
JOHN BALDWIN
JOHN S. MARR , M.D.
Cos Cob, Conn., July 27, 1997
The writers are the co-authors of a forthcoming novel on the 10 plagues.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E04E6D9163DF932A3575BC0A961958260
