Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body's tissues are mistakenly attacked by their own immune system.
What role did the bison or buffalo play in the culture of the Plains Indians? The bison were an important source of fur, food, and shelter for the Plains Indians. They used every part of the animals they killed. Bison were also an important part of their culture.
Bison bulls weigh 1,600 to 2,000 pounds and stand 5.5 to 6.5 feet at the shoulder. They measure 9.5 to 11.5 feet in total length (including the tail). Bison usually live no longer than 20 years, but some have been known to live as long as 40 years. The cow is smaller, weighing up to 1,100 pounds. It is 4.5 to 5.5 feet high and less than 10 feet in length. The cow has a smaller hump than the bull and her horns are more slender and curved than the bull. Bison are definitely social animals and live in herds, although it is not unusual to see an occasional single animal on the prairie.