Mission

I heard rather unfavourable things about the new actor. (It could just be because people usually react poorly to change.) It sort of makes sense that they would cross over into the era of the pirates, though. He is a time traveler... We probably have Disney to thank for this. If they hadn't reinvigorated the genre, everyone would probably still think piracy = box office death. (Even so, you don't see a lot of copycat movies for some reason. Most of the media spillover seems to be mainly in television.)

I originally had it written 'robot chicken' then I realized someone would probably run the thread off the rails if I left it that way, so I changed it. Ok, let's put the thread back on the rails. This is Twill, not Beyond after all. (I would still take a display robot over a cannon any day.)

Suit yourself. Me, I'd take a chicken robot over a great gun any day. (If offered one or the other, that is.)

C'mon, lookit how realistic they are...no mess, no government forms...plus you can say you own a robot.

The answer is...replica chickens.

I would appreciate it if someone would cart all the surgical stuff over to the island. I could leave it with you guys in Columbus if that will work because I won't be needing it in-between events. OR, I could bring my pickup over (8' open bed) if you're looking for a pack mule. If someone else would rather bring their vehicle, I really don't have a need or even an interest in bringing mine, but the offer's there if you want it. I will be traveling pretty light other than the surgical gear. Even that is fairly small (but getting quite dense and thus heavy.)

Here's to the Prince of Pirates! Huzzah!

Speaking purely from a logistics POV (and without any resources to back me) it would seem to me that they would want to use cages that would pack together well. Thus, round cages make less sense than four-sided ones. This doesn't mean that convention mightn't overrule logic, but it's just the way it would seem to me. I recall reading of a problem where the animal cages went overboard during a storm. Round ones would roll, making it more likely they'd go overboard. Let me see... Hey! More proof for chickens in coops! (Didn't think to look for the word 'hen'.) "[sept 17, 1676] About 4 in the morning the seas grow far more outrageous, and break clearly over our quarter-deck; drive our hen-coops overboard; and washed one of our seamen clean off the crotchet-yard. A second sea came and threw down all our booms; brake both pinnace and longboat on the decks. A third came, and flung our anchor off the ship side, flung the bell out of his place, brake off the carving, and pulled two planks asunder in the midst of the ship, between decks, and just against the pump. Our forecastles was broke all down long before. Now the men are all disheartened, and all expect nothing but the loss of ship and life." (Henry Teonge, The Diary of Henry Teonge, Chaplain on Board H.M.’s Ships Assistance, Bristol, and Royal Oak, 1675-1679, p. 189-90) By the way, The Diary of Henry Teonge is another book I highly recommend for interesting details. Looking for the word 'hen' leads to... “The Fire [in Acapulco] went so far, that it got into our Hen-roost, and burnt near 300 so that we lost he Refreshment of our Voyage. [Footnote 2: The number of hens is not excessive: Benavente (358) remarks that 1,000 hens for 40 friars on the 90-day voyage to Manila ‘are not many.’]” (Domingo Navarrete, The Travels and Controversies of Friar Domingo Navarrete 1618-1686, p. 40) And a reference to something called "hen-cubs"... “In taking a view of our vessel, we found that the violence of the weather had forced many sorts of seabirds on board of our vessel, some of which were by force of the wind blown into and under our hen-cubs and many remained alive. Our hogs and sheep were washed away and swam on shore, except one of the hogs which remained in the vessel.” (Dickinson, , Jonathan Dickison's Journal or God's Protecting Providence (a journal of events on the Florida coast dated from 1696/7), p. 5) I'm going to double-check that and make sure I didn't misspell 'cube' when fat-fingering that in. That would be most telling. Nothing in these next about what they were kept in, but I imagine the carpenter would have built something. Maybe you should ask Dutch what he would put them in. “We finding our goods not to be a commodity there [Madeiras], we sailed to Santa Cruz in Barbary, where we traded with the Moors, a country very plenty of provisions – fish in abundance, I think for one piece of eight I bought above twenty hens and cocks and barley to feed them with.” (Edward Coxere, Adventures by Sea of Edward Coxere, p. 107) “[1699] And many times we could not carry enough sail, driving to and fro and doing much damage and loss in our fresh provisions, having ‘drownded’ a hundred fowls, hens, cocks, turkeys and geese, and several pigs and hogs, and some sheep, and bruising much the live bullocks we had aboard, spoiling their flesh very much.” (Barlow, Barlow’s Journal of his Life at Sea in King’s Ships, East and West Indiamen & Other Merchantman From 1659 to 1703, p. 508)

Well, I looked in my notes for references to laudanum without Syndenham in them and found several with doses in them. (I found no reference to Syndenham with regard to laudanum. I stand by the statements about there probably being many concoctions of the stuff, depending on who made it.) Most of these recipes seem to regard laudanum as an ingredient, which is why there are measures. I am going to guess that the recipes are for one dose, although I can't always be sure of that. Note that these measurements are given as weights - usually grains (g. or Gr. or gr. etc.) I don't actually own a marked grain weight, although I do know it is small. I have some unmarked weights and these might be grains. They could probably show you one at Jamestown. We might guess a grain is a drop, although that would be a guess Moyle has all sorts of recipes for medicines with laudanum, beginning with fevers: "Rx. Laud. Gr. Ij. (or gr. Iij. if the Patient be strong) Confect. De Hyacinth. {dram}f. Alkerm. {scruple}j. misce. f. Bol. __ Sometimes I have give the Laudinum in a {dram}j. of Diascordium. And sometimes per se.; but which way so ever you give it, it is the most excellent of all Medicines in this case [some sort of fever]." (John Moyle, p. 164-65) "And as to the Fever that attends this disease [Ague - fever brought on most likely from Malaria), you must (to asswage heat and thirst) do as I taught in Fevers. But if all that I have said will not prevail, then you must betake your self to this approved means following (due preparation having first preceded). Rx. Laud. {grain} iij, dissolve it in a spoonful of Spir. Vini. And let the Patient take it about an hour before the Fit is to come..." (Moyle, p. 198) Dental work: "And if it be a hot Rheume, take only Laudinum, {grain}ij. dissolve it in a Spoonful of Sack, and dip a small pellet of Lint in it, and put it into the hollow Tooth..." (Moyle, p. 242-3) Colic: "Or, if Clysters have first preceded and wrought, you may give the Patient, in the greatest extremity, Laud. {grain}iij. or iv. either in a Pill, or dissolved in a little Spirit of Mint, and there will ease follow incontinently, only keep the Patient warm whilst it works its effects." (Moyle, p. 202) Arthritis: "Rx. Laud. {grain} iij. f. Pil. give it the Patient, and expose him to rest, covering him very warm." (Moyle, p. 214) and Nose bleeds: "These things being done and over, you may give Laudinum {grain}iij. and expose the Patient to rest... __ __ "Then I put him to Bed, and gave him Laud. Liquid. Gutt. 40 in a Glass of Beer: This Composed the Ebulition of he Spirits and Blood, and Completed the Cure." (Moyle, p. 241-3) ■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□ John Woodall gives his own recipe for Laudinum Paracelsi [all in Latin, of course]in his book, the surgions mate. [Note - Woodall's death precedes Sydenham's first book by almost 25 years.]: Rx. Opii Thebaici uncias i[...]es. Succi Hyoscyami debito tempore collecti, & in Sole prius inspissati unciam unam & sem specierum Diambræ & Diamosschi, fideliter dispensatarum ana uncias duaes cum dimidio mummiæ transmarinae & selectæ unciam sem. Salis perlarum. Gorallorum ana drachm. iij. Liquoris Succini Albi per Alcohol Vini extracti. Ossis de corde Cervi ana drachmam j. Lapidis Bezoartici. Unicorni animalis vel mineralis drachmam unam. Moschi. Ambrae ana scrupulum J. In defectu genuini auri potabilis nullis corrosivis inquinati addantur, Oleorum Anisi. Carui. Arantiorum. Citrorum. Nutistæ. Cariophyllorum. Cinamomi. Succini ana guttæ 12. Fiat ex his secundum artem Chymicam, massa, sen extractum, ex que a[...] necessarios usus, possint pillulae efformari." (Woodall, p. 229) And he advises a general dose: "The dose of this opiat medicine, is two, or three, or foure graines, if there be loosenesse of the belly, __ as is rehearsed, it worketh much the better. Note that in some parts of the world this medicine is mentioned dose will doe no ease, wherefore when you finde that by experience, in the next patient give more, but not to the same patient without great reason. It is best given in any occasion accompanied with waters or other medicines, which are most appropriate to the diseases and parts diseased, and yet may very well bee given alone in a pill, which I willingly do, for that the patient then is least troubled with the taste thereof. But beware you use not this medicine to any, which are feeble through a great cough being oppressed with tough phleagme and shortnes of breath, for there is not good: if the disease be violent, as I have sayd, one dose may bee given after another, with sixe houres at the least distance, very safely, but Ozwaldus Crollius saith, within foure howers, as is said in the cure of Distentery." (Woodall, p. 227-8) He also advises a specific dose for a case of the flux [dysentery or diarrhea]: "...if he cannot take his rest, give him three graines of Laudanum in a pill, and so appoint him to rest..." (Woodall, p. 203) He goes on advise for severe cases of flux: "...thou mayst returne to Laudanum againe and againe, alwayes remembring, as is sayd, there be foure houres at the least distance, betwixt each dose..." (Woodall, p. 209) ■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□ And here's a dose that's about four times what anyone else suggests from John Atkins' book The Navy Surgeon: "Example of a Fractured Thigh I. In the Hard Winter, 1709, a Young Man of twenty Years of Age fractured his Thigh, by a Surging of the Cable, about four Fingers Breadth above the Knee. I reduced it, and proceeded in the Method before laid down; only instead of Junks, I infixed the Dressings with a Sheet of Pasteboard, (that came from above the Fracture to below the Calf,) placed the Leg and Thigh even, and in a Position easy to him, kept the Great Toe in a Line with his Knee, and carefully filled up the Vacuities at the Ancle and Ham with Compresses: I also bled him; and in the Evening gave the following composing Draught. Rx. Aq. Theriac. Syr. de Mecon. a {ounce}s. Laud. Liq. g.[rains] xvj Aq. Hord. {ounce}ij. F. Haust. (Atkins, Navy Surgeon, p. 59) ■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□ Aaron Smith mentions it and an attempted overdose quantity in an account where he was captured by pirates, although this is about 100 years past period: "I begged that the medicine chest might be placed near me, which they did, & I seized that opportunity of swallowing the contents of a small vial of laudanum, about a hundred and thirty drops, hoping that I should wake no more in this world." ... I now began to feel the soporiferous effects of the laudanum, and, laying myself down upon my mattress, commended my soul into the hands of the God who gave it, beseeching him to forgive me for the act I had committed, and resigned myself, as I thought in the arms of death. I soon fell into a profound sleep, which lasted the whole night, and in the morning they found such difficulty to arouse me, that they imagined I had poisoned myself and was dead. The captain accused me of having done so, and threatened me with a second torturing if I ever made another attempt. I told him I had merely taken some opiate medicine to render me insensible to the pain I suffered, and that I had taken an usually powerful effect upon me. He then asked me if I could attend to the sick? I said that I would endeavor to do so; but, upon attempting to rise, I found my strength fail, and my limbs so stiff and in such a state, that I began to think that I had lost their use. A mattress was however placed under me to help me sit up, & the medicine chest placed by my side; and in this manner, although it put me to excruciating agony,. I began to perform my task.” (Smith, p. 41-4)

Happy Birthday Lily!

I don't have Sydenham's book nor have I read it because he's a physician, not a surgeon. To be honest I have yet to see a recipe for laudanum referred to as being Sydenham's. Most of the surgical references I have seen are in brief passing as a way to alleviate pain. In fact, the majority of medical recipes appear to me to be how much is needed to make the medicine (in a sort of Latin 17th c. dram, ounces and scruples 'percentage' kind of way) rather than how much to give the patient. Sometimes they give this info, but more often they do not. (Which is really quite curious when you think about it.) Keep in mind the land surgeons were actually forbidden to make medicines - that was the purview of physicians and apothecaries - so sea surgeons would probably have only the minimal knowledge required in the area to do their job. On top of that, much of medicine at this time was sort of by gosh and by golly and I suspect few recipes agreed with each other so any potency they would have probably varied widely. Still...laudanum was referred to by name and I have yet to see a recipe for it in a surgeon's manual which suggests that it would be bought ready made from an apothecary. However the recipes varied from apothecary to apothecary as they doctored them up or even substituted cheaper alternatives to make more money on the recipes. Note the warning in John Moyle's book Chirurgius Marinus, “In the next place be advised to see (your self) that the Medicines you put up are good... And besides, your self is the Man whose Reputation must stand or fall, according as your Medicines operate on the Sick or Wounded, and that is another great Reason that you should look to it. Indeed so it is, that in many Compound Medicines [laudanum being a compound medicine], a very knowing Man may be deceived, and not know if they were truly dispenced; not- __ withstanding this, if you have had any experience in Medicines, then either by the sight, smell, taste or consistence, you will perceive (within a little more or less) whether the Medicine be sound or sophisticated. But however if you go in a Merchant Man, where there is no view on your Chest, then you are happy if you have an honest Apothecary that dispences his Medicines faithfully, and that will not put bad things upon you.” (Moyle, p. 40-1)

There's some good stuff back there. (As well as multiple versions of the same ol' same ol'. I can't count all the discussions on tattoos, earrings, fantasy vs. PC, marriage at sea and suchlike. Well, OK, I could, but I don't like to.) Curiously, I did NOT find what I was looking for.

The spelling in 17th c. manuscripts is nothing short of random - even within the document itself. I take 'sunanche' to be the 17th c. equivalent of 'sun-ache' and 'perpneumonia' to be an illness that someone who commits a crime comes down with. (I have no idea what perpneumonia is. It is most likely a variation on pneumonia, but I'd have to go back to the manuscript and see if I could find it again to verify that.) (Don't hold your breath awaiting my research vis-a-vis that point.)

Bump. (I just thought this might interest some of you. )

Perhaps sailors were somewhat more aware of the dangers of the sun than is suggested previously. (No doubt most were well tanned, though. Like being with the pool maintenance crew, suntan would probably come with the territory.) "On his being brought on board, the captain told him the accusation that was against him, and his party, and threatened him with a cruel and lingering death, if he did not confess the whole truth. In vain did he declare his innocence, and ignorance of any plot; the ruffian was resolved to glut his vengeance, and ordered him to be stripped and exposed, naked, wounded, and bleeding as he was [from being shot at previously when returning from shore], to the scorching fervour of a July sun; the July sun of a tropical climate!" (Aaron Smith, The Atrocities of the Pirates (1824), p. 36-9) While others didn't seem to mind it, apparently regarding it as a recreational activity (not unlike many people today): “[July 5, 1689] Now having nothing else to do, we put our fishing craft awork and caught some fish, which was a little diversion as well as a refreshing to us, while we lay here [in St. Helen’s road] acoveing and sun burning.” (Ingram/Roch, Three Sea Journals of Stuart Times, p. 115) Some proof that hats were used to fend it off: “There are an abundance of lobsters [in Newfoundland]- two or three boys would get in an hour or two’s time as many as would serve twenty or thirty men a meal, and butts or plaice, as broad as sun-hats, abundance.” (Edward Coxere, Adventures by Sea of Edward Coxere, p. 121) Knowledge of sunburn goes wayyyy back. Naturally, bleeding was one of the cures, especially when you ask Galen [AD 129 – 199/217], who was the first big proponent of bleeding: “…you know that you yourselves have often been with me when I have recommended venesection for gouty patients, or arthritics, epileptics, melancholics, or those with a history of haemoptysis, or a condition in the chest predisposing to such a disease, or scotomatics, or those who are repeatedly seized with sunanche or perpneumonia, or pleurisies, or liver diseases, or severe attacks of ophthalmia; in fact, to speak generally, with any severe disease. I say that in all such conditions phlebotomy is an essential remedy that must be applied immediately, as long as the patient’s strength and age are also taken into account." (Peter Brain, Galen on Bloodletting, p. 82)

Firkins. I love that word. It According to Little, it means 56 pounds of butter. Mmm. Butter.

I thought I'd throw some chicken references in here because I stumbled across this topic while looking for something else. There's a reference to pens shipboard from Pierre Labat's wonderful account. (Anyone who hasn't yet read The Memoirs of Pére Labat 1693-1705 really should make time for it. It is probably one of the richest accounts in detail that I have yet read. You'll most likely find a copy through your local library.) “[in Cadiz] The fishermen and other people who always come alongside a ship when she arrives in port did not fail __ on this occasion to offer us goods for sale, for the Spaniards suppose that any vessel coming from a long voyage must be short of everything. These men were therefore surprised when they saw our pens of full of chickens, pigs, sheep and goats that there was sufficient live stock on board for a return voyage to America. It is quite true that every ship is not always so well provisioned as we were, but M. Maureller, his niece and myself brought so many provisions and animals, etc., on board that we were obliged to send a quantity of poultry ashore before we sailed as there was no room for them, and it was not surprising that we had so many left when we arrived, although we frequently entertained the officers and passengers of the other ships on board our vessel during this voyage. Hence we only bought their peaches, apples and pears, and more especially their very fine grapes, of which our Demoiselle Creole at such an amount in spite of all her uncle told her, he was very frightened that she would be ill.” (Labat, p. 262) “Besides the furniture in their canoes, the Caribs also bring parrots, iguanas, chickens, pigs, pineapples, bananas and crabs to trade with us [in Martinique].” (Labat, p. 78)

I would definitely go to the Lockhouse if I were you. It's close, it's period and it's Blackjohn's event. You'd like Blackjohn. Wenches Fantasy Weekend? Seriously? No offense to the organizers or people who enjoy it, but I've known you for years on-line and that sounds about as far from the sort of event you'd enjoy as you could find. If you decide to go to Lockhouse LMK. If I can swing it, I'd go just to meet you.

This is probably one of the best period descriptions I've found for wet cupping. It's from John Atkin's The Navy Surgeon: “XII. Cucurbitula. Cupping is more expedient in Apoplectick, Hysterick, and Parlytick Cases, the Pain as well as drawing forth of Blood, irritating and making Derivation: They are commonly put to Shoulders and Inside of the Thighs; or as other Cases may indicate, immediately to the Part affected. The Scarificator [a little metal box with multiple spring-loaded fleams that cut into the flesh simultaneously when a lever is thrown - for pictures of some, click here] is best reckoned for this Work, because it makes all the Wounds at once, and with less Apprehension than our common Method at Sea, by a single Lancet. Having marked the Diameter of the Glass, by applying it close with a little Flock of Tow set on Fire (or Wax-candle fixed at Bottom,) we chaff the Skin, scarify, and return it again in the same manner; and though a little painful, draws more commodiously, the Exsuctions of the Air-pump can do in the other. The Phœnomenon is thus explicated. When the Air in the Cupping-Glass is expelled, or greatly rarefy’d by the Fire; the Flesh swells into it, and Exsuctions of Blood follows. First, Because the Gravity of the Atmosphere is taken off, from that Spot the Glass is on, which makes way. Secondly, For the Particles of Air circulating in our Blood to expand and swell, towards where the Æquilibrium is wanted; for this Reason a Sponge of cold Water to the Glass, lessens its Attraction; warm Water or a warm Room encreases it. And by the same Philosophy, a Bottle heated and inverted into Water, will attract above one Third full. To remove them you need only press the Skin with your Finger to let in a little Air; when off, wash the Scarifications with warm Wine and Water, and apply Ceratum Diapalm. [Ceratum Diapalmae – a drying paste made with wax, oil, hogs-fat, palm oil, litharge, and zinc sulfate.]” (Atkins, Navy Surgeon, p. 181)

While I really do enjoy what we do, I don't think I'd call it 'public service.' If it is so, I must say that never before have I been involved in a public service effort that involved so much recourse to top drawer rum.

A Spanish series about (what appear to be) GAoP pirates? That's what you call ironic.

I have said in the past that medicines are not my specialty, but I found this to be a nice general overview of some aspects of medicine with regard to wounds, so I am reprinting it. There's also some interesting notes on diet. (I am not, however, translating the medicines from Latin. That exercise is left to the reader.) Note that I am adding lines to the table and changing the font so that the table spacing reflects what is in the book. (Alas, the forum handling of spaces and standard font do not preserve spacing very well.) “In all these Wounds, especially the Penetrating; tho Simplers have given each peculiar Herbs, their Cure when any Hopes remain, lays in one general Design; and that is, procering an easy languid Circulation: Whatever excites Uneasiness, (stirring or Medicine) puts the Blood in quicker Motion, irritates and does hurt. The less the Bowels labour in their several Offices by a Subtraction of Meat and Drink, provided there is enough taken in to sustain Life, the better in these Cases goes on the Work of healing, indicated by the nauseating of a Patient, and may be proportioned by that: The Parade of many internal Medicines bring more Reputation to the Physician, than Service to the Patient when he does well. To compass this, the best we can, is to observe an exact Regimen, large Bleeding, a quiet soft Position in Bed, a warm Air, keeping the Body soluble with __ Clysters or Suppositories; Hypnoticks now and then; Vulnerary Decoctions, and Diet of Vegetables. Externally may be required, Fomentations, Embrocations, Cataplasms; and as Danger abates, Terebinthinates and Balsamicks. Vulneraria. Acetosella ____________________ Gerristæ ______________________ Dactilæ Agrimonia _____________________ Hessop ________________________ Viperæ Brassicæ ______________________ Borage ________________________ Limaces Hederaterres __________________ Bigloss _______________________ Lacti Hyperic. ______________________ Endiv. ________________________ Cort. Ulmi Puminar. ______________________ Porri _________________________ Salviæ Brooklime _____________________ Sambuc. _______________________ Menth. Smallage ______________________ Fiei __________________________ Petrochin Gochlear. _____________________ Passulæ _______________________ Alehoof. Some or other of these, may be made into Teas or Decoctions, adding a little White Wine for common Drink. Mr. [Joseph] Wiseman advises some of them in Broth, (p. 347.) with Eggs and Jellies. Balsamica. Tea ___________________________ Eryngium ______________________ Terebinth. Chocolate _____________________ Ammoniac ______________________ Sper. Cæcti Nuces Pistach. ________________ Glycirriza ____________________ Lupuli. Pastinaca _____________________ Cinnabar native. ______________ Bals. Tolu Gœpæ __________________________ Hordeum _______________________ Benzoin Lap. Hibernic. ________________ Bals. Peru ____________________ Sulphur Amygdalæ ______________________ Bals. Capiv. __________________ G. Junip. Cynosbita In the Course of these Cures if any inward Hæmmorrhage is apprehended, a Fever attending, or Sweats, there is not better Medicine than the Bark {scruple}ij. in a Bolus with Syr e Mecon. and repeated every 4 or 6 Hours.” (Atkins, Navy Surgeon, p. 169-70)

Here's some interesting treatment for splinters (and other things in and under the skin) gone bad: “Painful Corns, Fractures, Felons, Thorns, or Splints, running deep into the Ends of the Fingers, (under or on the Sides of the Nails) will often by their acute Pain, bring on sudden great Inflammation and Fluxion [flow of fluids]; sometimes rot the Bone without any Sign of a Mortification outwardly. I have frequently on all these Occasions, taken off the Joints of Fingers and Toes, done at one Stroke with the Chissel, in the Joint of the second or third Phalanx, because less apt to splinter; and if there be a Caries [decay of the bone] stops there. Dressings after the first for stopping the Blood with warm Ol. Tereb. [turpentine] left on 24 or 36 Hours, must be Lint Pledgets [compress of absorbent material] out of a warm Digestive [substance to promote healthy pus formation in a wound], a little thick cross Cloth, a Rowler [rolled bandage] to keep it on, and a Flannel Cap over all; especially in cold Weather, to keep the Stump warm: The Wound that would never digest under that acuteness of Pain attending these Accidents under ill Habits, (and points out Malignancy,) quickly digests with this Alteration, and the Symptoms are relieved. I have drawn away the Bone of the third Phalanx of the Finger, when bare, corrupted and loose, after these Accidents join’d perhaps to an ill Treatment; and seeing no Sign of a Mortification in the Wound, healed it up, finding the Finger, afterwards of more use, with such a Fungus, than if a Part had been extirpated [removed].” (Atkins, Navy Surgeon, p. 163)

I was sitting in Panera working on my laptop when someone I hadn't seen in decades came up to my table. We got to chatting and he said, "I saw an article in the paper a year or so ago that said you're still doing something good in the community." At first I wasn't sure what he meant, then I remembered the profile article the local paper wrote about my work re-enacting the role of a pirate surgeon. Doing something good in the community! Yep, that's me all over.

They preserved the spelling! Very nice. (I love the word "firkin".) Aqua vitae seems to mean 'brandy' during the GAoP in my medical texts, but it is also a general word for distilled spirits. (In Latin it means "water of life." )