Mission

While looking for info on Peggy Lipton, I found info on artist Jessica Joslin. (Somehow this must make sense in a remote cosmic way that I don't yet comprehend.) Jessica Joslin is an artist whose art work is very interesting. See it on her site here. Her stuff has a distinct steampunk look to it. I particularly like her cat sculptures.

He's not a pirate, he's a Puritan. I wonder how they'll dismiss the religious overtones?

Ah, I have found a true contemporary reference to leeches in Richard Wiseman's Eight Chirurgical Treatises. The leeches are not in the hands of a surgeon, they are implied to be given at the behest of a physician. So here goes, you "reach for a leech" fans... "A person of about forty years old, of a melancholick and scorbutical Habit of body 1, was sorely afflicted with the Itch all over her Body. Her Physician at the same time being indisposed could not visit her, but, according to the relation her Servants gave him of her Disease, prescribed her Clysters, and purged her with such opening Apozemes2 as were proper in her case, advising bloud to be drawn from the Hæmerrhoidal Veins3 by Leeches, and afterwards prescribed her a Bath in which she bathed often, but without success. Upon which consideration I was desired by the Physician to give her a visit, to inform him of her condition4. I did so, and saw her Hands, Arms and Breast overspred with brawny Scales, under which were mattery Wheals [pus-filled welts]. She was very hot, and her Tongue parch'd; her Pulse seemed to be oppressed. I told her she had a Fever. She replied, it was for want of sleep occasioned by the intolerable Itch and soreness. I gave an account of her condition to the Physician, who thereupon prescribed her to be let bloud about eight or nine ounces, and that night after a Clyster and cordial Julep [sweet drink]; by which she was relieved. About three of four days after she complained of a pain on her left Side, and had a Fever, with great heat and thirst. The Physician prescribed more bloud to be taken away; which was done to the quantity of nine ounces or thereabouts5, by which she was relieved of her pain and Fever, and daily recovered strength. And upon further information of her Recovery, her Physician advised her to remove to Espom6, and there to drink the Waters. She did so, and by his Prescriptions was also cured there of her Itch." (Wiseman, p. 137) 1 This refers to the four humors in the humoral theory of medicine, not 'melancholy' in terms of sad, nor 'scorbutic' in terms of scurvy. Melancholic humor is cold & dry and the personality is "despondent, sleepless & irritable." I have not yet determined what a scorbutic humor' is exactly, although Wisemen refers to it several times in his book. 2 Vegetable substances added to other drugs. 3 Veins in the anal area. 4 Physicians were higher up on the totem than surgeons. 5 Note that these last two venesections were probably performed using incision because the blood was measured. 6 Epsom was a "spa town" in Surrey, England. Towns catering to illness were quite popular at this time, one of the more famous being Bath.

Hey Greg, It was the plain natural Linsey-Woolsey socks that I was after.... I'm a bit uptight when it comes to stripes...won't wear them in real life or as a part of my re-enacting gear.... I second the motion. If you bring oatmeal colored L-W socks, I'll snag a pair from you. (No stripes in my costume, thanks. It's too Mr. Smee for me.)

I just found out the Sam & Max graphic novel, Surfin the Highway has been re-released with some new material included. The original used to be really expensive because it was out of print, but the re-release is much more reasonable. Hilarious stuff, this, with some piratical references. You can pick it up on Amazon for $20 new and even less used. (I paid $10...mostly to get the new material.)

GEL INSERTS! I can't recommend them enough. Nobody can see them and they make all the difference in the world.

My thoughts exactly. For those who have never been to KW, let me echo Harry and suggest you spend at least one sunset at Mallory Square. You may or may not see the sunset, but you will definitely remember it. (People used to clap when the sun set, which I thought was incredibly neat - like applause for God - but the last few times I was down there, the circus had usurped the sunset to such a degree that not many people clapped. Oh well.)

Oh! I didn't know that. I bought some from him at Hampton. Why not pm him or post in his thread, Silas? Of the vendors from last year, he would have been the most likely to have PC socks.

Greg sells the Linsey-Woolsey socks as well.

Here's a little scientific experimentation on folk remedies from the 14th century. BriarRose will like this one... “For Bullets, I affirme, that they cannot conceive such heate, as to become causticke. For if you shoot them out of a Gun against a hard stone, yet you may presently take them up without any harme in your hands, though by striking up on the stone, they should become more hot. For combustions caused by Gun-pouder, I observed no speciall nor peculiar remedy, which might make their cure different from other combustions. To which purpose I related this ensuing history. One of the Marshall of Montejan his Kitchin boyes, fell by chance into a Caldron of Oyle being even almost boyling hot; I being called to dresse him, went to the next Apothecaries to fetch refrigerating medicines commonly used in this case: there was present by chance a certaine old countrey woman, who hearing that I desired medicines for a burne, perswaded mee at the first dressing, that I should lay to raw Onions beaten with a little salt; for so I should hinder the breaking out of blisters or pustules, as shee had found by certaine and frequent experience. Wherefore I thought good to try the force of her Medicine upon this greasy scullion. I the next day found those places of his body whereto the Onions lay, to be free from blisters, but the other parts which they had not touched, to be all blistered. It fell out a while after, that a German of Montejan his guard had his flasque full of Gunpouder set on fire, whereby his hands and face were grievously burnt: I being called, laid the Onions beaten as I formerly told you, to the middle of his face, and to the rest I load medicines usually applyed to burnes. At the second dressing I observed the part dressed with the Onions quite free from blisters and scoriation, the other being troubled with both; whereby I gave credit to the medicine.” (Paré, p. 140)

Indeed. Here is an excerpt from Paré's account (he actually talks a great deal about this in his book, refuting another book that had been printed at the time): “Now I had read in John de Vigo that wounds made by Gunshot were venenate or poisoned, and that by reason of the Gunpouder; Wherefore for their cure, it was expedient to burne or cauterize them with oyle of Elders [made by boiling Elder flowers with olive oil] scalding hot, with a little Treacle (Footnote 2: i.e. theriacs, or antidotes to poison) mixed therewith. But for that I gave no no great credite neither to the author, nor remedy, because I knew that causitckes could not be powred into wounds, without excessive paine… I observed and saw that all of [the army surgeons he worked with] used that method of dressing which Vigo prescribes; and that they filled as full __ as they could the wounds made by Gunshot with Tents [rolls of absorbent material, often medicated to keep a wound open] and pledgets [compresses of absorbent material, often lint] dipped in this scalding Oyle, at the first dressings; which encouraged me to doe the like to those, who came to be dressed of me. It chanced on a time, that by reason of the multitude that were hurt, I wanted [because he ran out of] this Oyle. Now because there were some few left to be dressed, I was forced, that I might seeme to want nothing, and that I might not leave them undrest, to apply a digestive [substance to promote healthy pus formation] made of the yolke of an egge, oyle of Roses, and Tupentine. I could not sleepe all that night, for I was troubled in minde, and the dressing of the precedent day, (which I judged unfit) troubled my thoughts; and I feared that the next day I should finde them dead, or at the point of death by the pyson of the wound, whom I had not dressed with the scalding oyle. Therefore I rose early in the morning, I visited my patients and beyound expectation, I found such as I had dressed with a digestive onely, free from vehemencie of paine to have a good rest, and that their wounds were not inflamed, nor tumifyed [swollen]; but on the contrary the others that were burnt with the scalding oyle were feaverish, tormented with much paine, and the parts about their wounds were swolne. When I had many times tryed this in divers others, I thought thus much, that neither I nor any other should ever cauterize any wounded with Gun-shot.” (Paré, p. 137-8)

Not much makes me actually laugh out loud, but that's pretty funny. "It's raining food! AIEEEE! Call the National Guard! Keep your children indoors!" TREBUCHET! (It was a bad movie and I don't recommend anyone run out and see it or anything. Read the book instead, which is far better. Still, that stuck with me because I thought it was sort of funny...)

Er, this is a reprinting of a post of mine from the Sealkies hide thread where it didn't belong... A trebuchet? Now we really must all run around yelling "TREBUCHET!" every time it is fired. (Now, that is obscure. Sorry.)

Oops. Somehow I posted that in the wrong thread. Sorry about that.

"A Commander at Sea, valiantly fighting in the midst of the Enemie's Fleet, had his Leg fractured by the fall of his Mizzen top-mast, it breaking his Leg transverse near the Ancle, the edge of the Bone thrusting out through the Skin. He not suffering the Bone then presently to be set while it was warm, afterwards, when it was swelled and stiff, it did not yield to Extension [restoration to it's normal position usually by pulling], but became painful and inflamed. After some few days he was brought to London, and I was sent to him. He was of an ill Habit of body, subject to the Gout and Dystenterie; and the Fracture being accompanied with great Defluxion [a great deal of discharge from inflammation] was not in a condition to admit of Extension. Therefore, according to Fallopius [Gabriel Fallopio (1523-62) anatomist and surgeon] and Hippocrates, before cited by me in the Treatise, I proposed to his Chirurgeon to proceed by Lenients [soothing medicines], to mitigate Pain, Inflammation&c. and by Bandage to hinder Defluxion. Which we did; and his Chirurgeon continued that method a few days, by which the Accidents were remitted. When we met again, finding the Patient in ease, we took off the Dressings, and agreed to make Extension, and reduce the Fracture. The Patient was of a dry tough Body [humourally speaking, probably Choleric], and the Member yielded difficultly to the Stretch: upon which consideration we satisfied our selves with a moderate Extension, doubting that upon a more forcible one ill Accidents might follow, (as an Inflammation presently did.) We drest it up as a compound Fracture: and after some days dressing a Callus thrust forth, and united the Bones. That Callus being confirmed and dried, we hasten'd the Exfoliation [casting off outer surfaces, in the form of putrid ‘leaves’ on scales] of the foul Bone by a little Ægyptiacum [detergent ointment said to be of Egyptian origin, containing verdigris (copper acetates), honey and vinegar] and pulv. myrrhæ [resinous gum Myrhh, used as a tincture] dissolved in spir. vini [spirit of wine], applied hot upon an armed Probe. Thus the Bone was exfoliated, and the Ulcer cured by the ordinary Intentions in such cases. Yet the inward leaning of the Bone continued a weakness in the Member a long time, as is usual where the Fracture hath not been timely or well reduced. To remedy this, I caused a Bar of Steel to be fixed in his Shoe with joints, and by a Bracer of Cloath to be laced on, or tied with Ribbons on the outside of the Leg; by which it was marvellously strengthened." (Wiseman, p. 475) This next is another case, no less interesting. "...taking off the Dressings [of a broken shin], we saw the Bone distorted, the lower Stitches broken, and the Wound of an ill aspect, as it were tending to Mortification; also the Bone thrust out so far, that there was no hopes of its being any more reduced by a new Extension. Upon which consideration we resolved to saw off the end of it: and to that purpose having prepared all things ready, we cut out the remaining Stitches, and turned the Foot on one Side towards the Small of the leg, thrusting the Bone more out; the one sawing the end off, while the other with a Spatula defended the Tendonous flesh underneath from being wounded by the Saw [That's gotta hurt!]. That done we cleansed the Wound from the Saw-dust, as also from the Shivers of little Bones which we had not discovered in our first dressing, they laying pricking the Periofleum [a membrane that conveys blood to the bones], between the fractured Bones and Membranes, by which those sad Accidents had been hastened. The Wound thus cleansed, we turned the Foot right into its natural place, there being no need of Extension: which being done, we scarified [made several small cuts to] the Lips of the Wound, and washt them cum spir, vini [with spirit of wine], with a little Ægyptiac, dissolved in it, and applied to the ends of the Bones Pledgits [compresses of absorbent material, often lint] dipt in the same, and prest out. We also drest the rest of the Wound cum unguent basilic [unguent of basil], with a little ol. terebinth [turpentine - used as an antiseptic and to create the formation of pus in wounds], warm, and applied a Mixture of an Emplastrum Paracels, [A plaster soaked in mixture of turpentine, honey and egg yolk - named for the physician Paracelsus], and diachalcit. [oil, litharge and vitriol used as a astringent and detergent] over the Wound and Parts about, and then a Compress and Bandage over that, as in Compound Fractures. The great work was now, how to support the Foot, and keep it even with the rest of the Leg, there being so great a distance between them without any Bone. But we having placed the Leg upon a quilted Pillow, laid him again in his Bed, and fitted it with a Wainscot-case [frame of superior, foreign, oak timber], where it was kept steady and equal, and lay conveniently for our daily dressing him. This done, we committed him to the care of his Friends to keep him there quiet, and ordered him cordial Juleps [sweetened alcoholic drinks] &c. After some hours we let him blood again. From this time his Pains lessened, and his Fever and other ill Symptoms went off as the wood digested." (Wiseman, p. 476-7)

A trebuchet? Now we really must all run around yelling "TREBUCHET!" every time it is fired. (Now, that is obscure. Sorry.)

Hurricane is right. The frequent flier programs are not like they used to be. They only reserve a few (like 4 or less I think one airline told me) seats on each plane for frequent flier miles trade-in and once they're gone, they're gone. Unfortunately this means you're usually out of luck if you wait until the last minute to try and book a flight with them.

Call off the dogs, I got a large bone saw. Well, I will have a large bone saw once it gets here...which will be after I leave for PiP, alas. It's coming from England and, while not quite as exciting as the Woodall saw, it is the right size and it's actually from the mid 18th century, so it is pretty well the right object. It has a wing nut that agrees with most of those I've seen from period and it even has a maker's mark - something much desired by collectors of surgical equipment. You can see that in the last photo. (It's a crown atop an 's')

Or that classic of classics, Animal House. (I'd repeat the dialogue, but this is a family friendly thread.)

Here, try this map: http://fcit.usf.edu/Florida/maps/local/monroe/m053705.htm Hmm...I guess that's not very helpful. It's before they backfilled Key West and created the Truman Annex... Try this map. Fort Zach is in the lower left hand corner. You'll most likely be coming in on Truman Avenue. (Follow all the 'US1' signs.) The only slightly confusing part is once you get through Truman Annex - this will be most apparent because the scenery changes dramatically and you find yourself in a rather barren-looking area. The fort entree is in the opposite corner of said area. (You can see this on the map where Southard crosses Fort St.)

Ah, but I'll give you an "arm back" guarantee. (What you do with the arm is your business.)

I...think so...I...don't know. All of the threads in here seem to have degenerated into OT discussions. What's needed here is some good, solid forum moderation! (Quick, someone go find a good, solid forum moderator.)