(word processor parameters LM=8, RM=75, TM=2, BM=2) Taken from KeelyNet BBS (214) 324-3501 Sponsored by Vangard Sciences PO BOX 1031 Mesquite, TX 75150 There are ABSOLUTELY NO RESTRICTIONS on duplicating, publishing or distributing the files on KeelyNet except where noted! October 6, 1991 CASCADE.ASC -------------------------------------------------------------------- This file is shared with KeelyNet courtesy of Tom Brown, Director of Borderland Sciences. The Journal of Borderland Sciences has been in active publication since 1945. It is an excellent quarterly magazine with subscribers worldwide. If you might like to subscribe, please mention that you heard of Borderland from either Vangard Sciences or KeelyNet. Yearly subscriptions are $20. Borderland Sciences P.O. Box 429 Garberville, CA 95440-0429 USA -------------------------------------------------------------------- BSRF - Jan/Feb 1978 -------------------------------------------------------------------- The Medicine Men, "We Do Our Best" "A young man had an acutely inflamed throat. He went to his doctor, who gave him an injection of penicillin. The sore throat quickly got better. Three days later the young man began to itch. The itching got worse and he developed hives all over his body. The doctor made the correct diagnosis of an allergic reaction to the penicillin. He prescribed antihistamines. The hives disappeared. The young man, a machine operator, got drowsy from the antihistamines and cut his hand at work. The nurse in the dispensary gave him first aid and put on an anti-bacterial ointment containing penicillin. The hives returned and now the young man had swelling of the eyes and lips. The doctor recognized that a potentially dangerous allergic reaction was present; he ordered a course of corticosteriod treatment. Result - the itchiness, the hives and the swelling disappeared and the patient was well again. Except that now he had pain in his belly plus heartburn, and he Page 1 began to show signs of blood in his stools. The correct diagnosis of a peptic ulcer (induced by the corticosteroid) was made. The young man did not do well on medical treatment; he continued to bleed from his ulcer. His doctor, therefore, had a surgeon in for consultation. The two doctors agreed that partial gastrectomy was necessary, an operation to remove the ulcer-bearing portion of the stomach. The operation was successful. But because of the previous bleeding and the unavoidable loss of blood at the operation, a transfusion of 1000 milliliters (two pints) of blood was given. Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) followed. The young man became intensely jaundiced; he vomited his food and had to be fed intravenously for a few days. His youth did him in good stead as he recovered from his hepatitis. At the right ankle, where the intravenous needle and the plastic tube had been inserted into a vein exposed by cutting through the skin, a tender nodule appeared. It became red and inflamed, evidence of infection. Because of the bad experience the patient had experienced from penicillin, the doctor prescribed tetracycline. The inflammation promptly subsided. But because of the antibiotic, diarrhea came on and the patient had severe colicky cramps. The doctor ordered a special diet and gave a new anti-spasmodic drug to control the cramps. Diarrhea stopped. The new drug was in the belladonna class. It relaxed smooth muscle all over the body, and by its action on the iris, it caused dilation of the pupil of the eye. The young man's vision was impaired. He drove his car into a tree. Exitus young man." This is a true story from "The Medicine Men, the Myth of Quality Medical Care in America today", by Leonard Tushnet, M.D. -------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have comments or other information relating to such topics as this paper covers, please upload to KeelyNet or send to the Vangard Sciences address as listed on the first page. Thank you for your consideration, interest and support. Jerry W. Decker.........Ron Barker...........Chuck Henderson Vangard Sciences/KeelyNet -------------------------------------------------------------------- If we can be of service, you may contact Jerry at (214) 324-8741 or Ron at (214) 242-9346 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 2