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.
Called a wisent, the European bison (Bison bonasus) are close relatives of the American bison. They have been depicted in ancient cave art at such famous sites as Lascaux in France. The largest living herds are found in Poland's Bialowieza National Park, where Europe's last remaining primeval forest exists.