Re: Pre-Med (diatribe)

[Karl Trappe <trappe@PHYSICS.UTEXAS.EDU>]

Brian's reply suggests some good shock therapy for the arrogant of the
pre-meds, ie, a look at the humble beginnings, when "medical practice" had
a literal meaning.  Perhaps a webpage of such musings is in order.

Of course, physics never had such problems, like, say believing in the
"luminiferous ether"...ha...  Isn't there an old saying, like: "He who
doesn't laugh at himself will only be left to be laughed at by
others"...Karl

> At 11:52 6/16/99 -0500, Karl wrote:
> > ...
> > Regarding the history of surgery:  I understand that the observation
> > galleys were originally a part of the spectacle of early surgery, *not*
> > part of the training arena for future surgeons.  Spectators observed for
> > amusement, often cheering for the gruesomeness of the activity (and often
> > being disappointed when the patient survived). Surgery was originally a
> > last ditch effort applied to a person who was not expected to survive the
> > activity. smile...Karl
>
> I recommend a visit to the 'ether dome' at Massachussetts General
> Hospital when visiting Boston.
>  While I was visiting, there was a photo series of a civil war veteran
> enduring amputation by the earlier technique (opium and alcohol)
> until the loss of blood and tissue was reflected in shock, by which
> point his posture sagged from military to resigned.
>
> Complaints from the lower floors of blood dripping through the ceiling
> from patients strapped into the surgeon's chair were remedied
> with sawdust. The following fifty years showed dramatic changes.
> By the opening of the twentieth century, Americans could expect to live
> well into their forties, on average.
>
> brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>
> Altus OK

Dr. Karl I. Trappe                              Desk Phone:  (512) 471-4152
Physics Dept, Mail Stop C-1600                  Demo Office: (512) 471-5411
The University of Texas at Austin               Home Phone:  (512) 264-1616
Austin, Texas 78712-1081