Pain, Pus and Poisons
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2017 - MARCH 10TH TO 19TH.
The Search for Modern Medicines.
As a trainer I really enjoy delivering the 'poison' module of the 12 Hr Paediatric Course as its an excuse to bring to the attention the way that poisons effect the body and how we can of course treat a casualty who has been poisoned. (Seek medical attention asap - 999 in most cases, keep the evidence and treat any side effects).
What I find fascinating about this particular module is how poisons are potentially medicines and medicines are of course potentially poisons (to quote my hero, Dr Michael Mosley). It is a fine balance to get right and by experimenting (which is the corner stone of science!) a lot of people put themselves in danger (sometimes mortal!) to get us to where we are today.
One of my favourite clips was when Dr Mosley used (UNDER STRICT MEDICAL SUPERVISION- DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!) the gas Nitrous Oxide (which when mixed with oxygen gives us the gas used for when women are in labour, or for anybody in pain due to trauma or certain procedures in the hospital)
What do you think of the advances in Medicine that we are fortunate to be in receipt of in the modern day?