Mission

Isn't that beautiful? I love the curliques on parts. I have a pair of forceps like that as well.

The Surgeon's Journals are much more amusing than WebMD, I assure you. WebMD has never covered either the Smurfs or Kim Possible AFAIK. Actually, these tools Wes has so kindly agreed to make for me work hand in glove with the clyster. John Woodall drones on for pages about the sailor's...lower gastrointestinal track...and what must be done to and/or for it. So I am just honoring one of my mentors. Drilling holes in the head was also prescribed for migranes. Seriously. (Have you ever had a really bad migrane? I mean think about it, man!) Oh, that reminds me, Wes. I have another project I want to ask you about...

I need to write up a web page explaining them. The newer one is a Spatula Mundani, which was designed by John Woodall, author the surgions journal. As Wikipedia explains, it is "...an iron tool slightly longer than 12 inches and consisted of a paddle at one end. The other end was spoon-shaped, with the center removed and a knob at the end. The spoon end was used to extract the "hard excrements" while the other was used for applying ointments, no doubt necessary after undergoing a procedure with this instrument." I don't know the name of the other instrument, although Woodall has drawings of it as well. It basically serves the same purpose. The term mundani is apparently derived from the archaic term mundify which appeared in a dictionary from 1604 with the definition 'to make clean'." Remember...you asked.

Wow! Excellent! I also prefer things made by others because they then become "the Wes original spatula Mundani" or "the Michael Bagley original line of clothing" or "the Patrick Hand original hat" or "the Peter Chaaps original fleam stick" in the Pirate Surgeon's Journals. Not only does this recognize craftsman, it fills lots of space. (And if there's one thing the SJs need to be, it's longer.) Oh, and it's why do birds suddenly appear, not sing. It's from an old Carpenter's song.

Gee. I wish I could read them. No parlez-vous Français. (And entering them into Babelfish is a royal pain in the neck. Not to mention they appear to contain just as many misspellings and Latin terms as their English counterparts.) Ooh! Pretty pictures.

Wow, that arch looks really cool. I was going to tear all the lathe plaster off one of my bedroom walls and expose the brick underneath, but the cost of doing everything involved was too much, so I decided against it.

At first I thought he had awfully big feet and then I remembered...he's a rabbit!

Very cool. I like the finish on it - it looks period. I look forward to holding it. (Imaging having that thing stuck up...never mind.)

You forgot about having the right psychological frame of reference. (You can disagree, but you know that in some ways I'm right. )

There's sort of one of Jenny on this page of the first Santa Maria Surgeon's Journal.

I believe it was just raw steel. If you were able to put something on it to prevent rusting, though, that might be a good thing based on my past experiences.

I remember reading that strip when it came out in the newspaper. I laughed so hard I nearly cried because it was so true-to-life. I actually cut it out and stuck on my door.

Wow, that looks really good based on what I could see from blowing up the picture! And you did it in one night!? Awesome work! Let me know what you want for it via pm and I'll get you my address and so forth as well. FYI (for those of you who are not Wes), this is actually not an ear scoop, it is a spatula mundani. John Woodall invented this and he shows this and three other types of similar devices in his schematic for the 1639 edition of the surgions mate. You can read more about this charming device at the Jamestown Discovery site.

Plus now I can say I got it from the mother country.

Actually, if you read back a few posts, I already ordered one. But thanks to everyone for the suggestions! (Wes, talk to me about the bone saw, though. I'm also looking for a brace trepan like one of the ones on my webpage here.) Below are some photos of similar ones...although a few of these have plastic handles which would be either wood (preferably) or unplated metal. (That first one is wrong for our period. )

Ah, here we go. For your viewing pleasure, QJ (and the rest of you lot who actually read this silly thread):

Hi, Dan! You've actually posted this in the wrong forum, so I'm going to move it to the correct one - The Crow's Nest. As for changing your photo (or Avatar): 1. Click on the arrow by your name in the upper right hand corner of your screen, select 'My Profile' by clicking on that and a new screen will open. 2. On the new screen, you'll see a blue button in the upper right hand corner (in the white area of the screen) labeled 'Edit My Profile.' Click on that and yet ANOTHER new screen will open. 3. On the left side of the screen will be a menu under a green bar that says, "Change Profile Information." Beneath it is a selection for 'Change Avatar.' Click on THAT and yet ANOTHER new screen will open. 4. On this screen, you will find a way to upload a pic from your computer. 5. Take a break before doing so because you're probably exhausted from all that clicking. Seriously, Stynky (Stynky is the site owner), getting to this obvious and needed function should not take five clicks, especially for a new user. This is the opposite of user friendliness - user harassment.

Here's a question for someone...what does he mean here by "a great Dog?" I couldn't find an immediately acceptable definition on Google, unless it refers to one of the carpenter's tools. “Example V. A Concussion of the Brain. A young Lad standing in a Boat, under the Bow of the Ship, a great Dog accidentally fell from out of her, and brought his Head and the Boat’s Thwart (seat) together. He bled at the Ears and Nose, and kept doing so by Intervals for twenty-four hours; Speechless also, and insensible, yet no Wound or Appearance of Hurt through his whole Head. I took away {ounce}xij. Of Blood immediately, had the Head shaved, and rubbed his Temples and Nostrils __ with an equal Mixture of Sp. Lavend. and Sp. Sal. Vol. Ol. The next Day I blooded him again, applied a large Vesicatory to his Neck, and made contemperating Julap. But this he constantly regurgitated, as often as he attempted to swallow. On the third Day, I repeated Venesection, injected a stimulating Enema, and towards Evening he spoke; which was the first Time from his receiving the Hurt. We daily after this, found some Progression in the Recovery; but the Stupidity wearing off slowly, I cut him an Issue, and left him to the Use of Errhines [substances that promote running at the nose], and have Reason to think they were of no small Benefit.” (Atkins, Navy Surgeon, p. 92-3)

Here is an interesting account of a trepanation from John Atkins which resulted from a wound caused by a sliver. From my reading, slivers created by projectiles were some of the greatest dangers to seamen during battle (far greater than the projectiles themselves). “Example II. John Usher This Person was struck by a short splinter of Wood, in the Forepart of the Os Sincipitis: No Symptoms of a Fracture followed, but to Appearance, as well as ever he had been in his Life. We dilated the Wound, in order to extract this Splinter with a Forceps, or other Instrument; but finding our Endeavours in vain, and not being able to judge at what Depth it stuck, or the Accident that it might ensue from leaving it in any Time, we thought proper next Day to apply the Trepan, and found an odd Circumstance after the Operation; for the first Table being removed, the inner appeared depressed to a pretty large Circumference. The Operation was repeated through both Laminæ, and the deepest Part of the Depression, till the Splinter was brought away. We found no Extravasation; and dressed the Membrane Perforation, &c. in the Manner which has already been recited. Fourteen or fifteen Days passed without any remarkable ill Symptom, and then the Patient was suddenly seized with a great Pain in the Head, soon followed with a Sopor, Stupidity, and Looseness: I blooded him, gave an easy Purge of Pul. Rhabar. Kept him to the white Decoction, and some volatile Smells; but about the twentieth Day, he was farther seized with a Palsey of his Tongue, and left Arm, and died in twenty-four Hours after.” (Atkins, Navy Surgeon, p. 89-90)

For those of you hungering for a repro-ear scoop (and I know I am talking to many thousands of people here) PoD found this one for me on eBay UK. At US $8.45 shipped, I don't think you can beat it. I've added one to my medical collection. This is also a personal item that a gentleman (and thus, further down the thieving food chain, a pirate) might have had as well. I'll post my thoughts on it once I receive it. Thanks PoD!

There is a screen shot I have to get from one of my DVDs just for James, but I keep forgetting to do it. "I saw what you did to chocolate bunny." It's even worth tolerating the LOLspeak for that one.

Cheers, mate! McCallen Cask Reserve - I recommend it for bday celebrations. (If you can find it. )

For those wanting to stay at a hotel, from my experience, book right-freaking-now. When spring hits, the place fills up practically overnight. The cheapest reservation I could find in May was running $400 a night (which was too rich for my blood). This year I booked at the Park Hotel and the rate (with taxes) was $147.41 at night. Ok, it's still not cheap - in fact it's pretty much Key West prices - but since Put-in-Bay is pretty much Key West lite I guess that explains it. Even still, it's a helluva lot cheaper than $400.

It's a full-sized spoon based on one of the photos of a person holding it. I can't wait to see it in person myself. (It's coming over from the mother country.) Got this today. It's quite heavy. It's approximately 7-1/2 inches long. It's a bit smaller than a standard tablespoon.

Thanks for the advice, Mark. (Although, to be honest, price is a bigger concern the convenience for me.) Look at this! http://www.medicalmuseums.org/ A whole site listing the medical museums around London that includes info on which Underground (subway) stops to take to get to them! I think I'll be researching that in some detail. ...the three primary branches of 17th c. medicine museums (physician, surgeon & apothecary) are of great interest. The Wellcome museum is a cert. There's also a dental museum not listed on that site that I'd like to visit. I just hope and can squeeze everything in...