Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to A Girl And Her Fed. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
1.1278: Sparky and Washington conversation
Topic Started: Jan 10 2015, 10:35 PM (251 Views)
ExTechOp
Member Avatar
Rookie
George Washington: The only problem I have with modern medicine is that there wasn't any in my time. Leeches. What a bother.

Indeed, the account of his last hours makes for painful reading.
Quote:
 
Back in 1799, Washington's physicians justified the removal of more than 80 ounces of his blood (2.365 liters or 40 percent of his total blood volume) over a 12-hour period in order to reduce the massive inflammation of his windpipe and constrict the blood vessels in the region. Theories of humoralism and inflammation aside, this massive blood loss -- along with the accompanying dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and viscous blood flow -- could not have helped the president's dire condition.

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Tru
Member Avatar
Agent
There's no denying that we've come a long way since then, but modern medicine is still a matter of thumping around in the dark, as often as not.

My father had an aneurysm in his lower aorta. The surgeon gutted him like a trout from ribcage to groin, then replaced part of his aorta with a bit of vein from his upper leg. Then they paralyzed him for 3 weeks to let him heal. He lived another 6 years after that, Every day was a gift. But after an emergency room visit due to unsuspected heart congestion, he died two weeks later, of aspiration (according to the Death Certificate). A couple days before he died, I came into the ICU to find an orderly vacuuming blood out of his stomach with a casual disregard for the extreme discomfort that I could see he was causing. Even though my father was unconscious at the time, he was straining to get away from the device thrust down his throat being waggled around like a plumber using a snake on a drain.

It still pisses me off.

But at least they wash their hands first, nowadays.

Back in my day, Pluto was a PLANET!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Otter
Member Avatar
Administrator
[ * ]
Tru
Jan 11 2015, 10:01 AM
There's no denying that we've come a long way since then, but modern medicine is still a matter of thumping around in the dark, as often as not.

But at least they wash their hands first, nowadays.

I strongly believe in another 216 years, our "modern" medicine will be considered more primitive than what killed George Washington. Genetic therapies will be both the major preventative and the cure for everything from cancer to AIDS. (Of course, the antibiotic-resistant bacteria will have evolved to the point where it can wipe us out via drone warfare by then, but we'll just evolve superbacteria to fight for us! That couldn't possibly end badly.)


Tru, I'm so sorry to hear about what your father suffered
- Never send a ferret to do a weasel's work.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Tru
Member Avatar
Agent
Hahaha - I love this comic - and George's insouciant expression while Pat's having his moment of truth is just perfect! The casual sip at his flask is so nice. :)

I've always been a little taken aback by Washington's adamant stand that Pat "didn't earn" his power. Would it be possible to get a clearer take on his meaning when he says that?

My problem with his phrasing is that it feels like he's accusing Pat (and maybe the others) of "sneaking" into power through some underhanded process. And that makes me angry for our cyborgs. They had no clue what they were volunteering for - everything they were told was a lie, or a misleading truth. The fact that they were handed the keys to the universe, in a manner of speaking, wasn't their scheme. To have George treat their sacrifice of lives and sanity with such disdain (in my view) just makes me want to smack him.


And thank you for your kind words. It was a pretty distressing time all around. I learned when he died that all those TV shows that show a clear flat-lining when a patient dies are lies. That damn monitor continues to jiggle and stutter for a LONG time - the doctor finally had to turn it off as I couldn't take my eyes off it.
Back in my day, Pluto was a PLANET!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Create your own social network with a free forum.
Learn More · Sign-up for Free
« Previous Topic · Daily Strip Discussion · Next Topic »
Add Reply