Sharkuwantayas Tuhhimas

The widespread use of beer as a beverage in Andaperna has its foundations in frequent gastrointestinal infections caused by spoiled water. The warm climate as well as relative scarcity of fuel makes boiling water to desinfect it unattractive. The sickness caused by drinking spoiled water or foods is called sharkuwantayas tuhhimas, which descibes the result of such an infection quite aptly 'wailing in stomach pain'.

Most water sources in Andaperna are rivers, streams or rivulets and in most parts of the world, flowing water is rather clean and safer for consumption than standing bodies of water. This is different in Andaperna, where almost all water is spoiled by bacteria causing stomach-ache, diarrhea, cramps and gut convulsions. It is thus not possible to use water directly from the rivers without further treatment. It is either mixed with vinegar or soap for cleaning and washing. Vinegar is especially popular for washing clothes, as it makes the fabric soft. Andaperna people also boil water to kill bacteria and make water safe for consumption, especially during the night or the cooler months of the year, as fire and heating is rather unhelpful for the people in the usually warm to hot conditions of Andaperna.

Sharkuwantayas tuhhimas is not primarily a deadly disease, as the above described symptoms hold on for only two to three days. Still, especially people with a weak immune system, like babies, younger children and elderly people as well as sick and otherwise weakened people can fall victim to the dehydration taking place when suffering from diarrhea. Problems also arise, when drinking untreated water repeatedly and getting infected time and again. This sometimes happes with children not listening to their parents and drinking water without paying attention while they play outside with their friends. While Andaperna people see activity of ghosts, spectres and spirits in many everyday phenomena, many of which rightfully so, they are all aware, that the cause of sharkuwantayas tuhhimas is not supernatural, but caused by problems of a very mundane kind. To counteract these dangers, the pysical or chemical means of using acid, alcohol or heat to treat the water are used to ensure safe and healty consumption. People also tell cautionary tales about raw river water to try to scare children away from taking a sip when unsupervised.