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Friday, March 16, 2007
Nadine & the Puss-Maggots
Tory MP Nadine Dorries has written a blog post on maggots. No, really. HERE.
29 comments:
Anonymous
said...
At first I thought this was another article about Tim Ireland, until I read the article on Nadine's blog.
I won't go into much detail here as it's around about dinner time for most people but, I believe the beneficial side effects of maggots was first discovered in WW1 by wounded soldiers stranded in no-mans-land.
Now, if only she's blog about the antiseptic effects of urine on wounds when nothing else is available, or the coagulating effects of spiders webs on deep flesh wounds ...
Or even on the healing qualities of Cow saliva. Back in my estate management days, with a few grains of salt as the tempter, a good cow-licking of minor wounds and abrasions encouraged quick healing and no inflamation.
Too bad she doesn't know how to spell 'pus'. I kept trying to get the connection to puss. Cat-maggots? Feline-maggots? N-o-o-o. Ailuro-maggots?
Re the urine as disinfectant, I've never understood the theory behind this because surely the urine is carrying away impurities from the body? Does anyone know the answer?
I believe the disinfectant powers of maggots on open wounds has been known since the 16th Century. Frankly, I would be surprised if the Greeks and/or the Romans hadn't observed this, a long, long time ago.
Maggots are very effective. There is a major centre in Bridgend where they breed sterile maggots for treating wounds. Beacause the dressings are transparent it is possible to see them at work. There is a story that one slightly senile lady who gave them all names.
You know, pretty soon Iain isn't going to be flooded with comments because all the legitimate commentators will have fled, yawning.
Here's a clue as to why: no one here cares about your hissy little provincial spats. We're not in your gang. We're not on your level. We find your sad, catty little lives too awful.
Now stop trying to poison threads or I will have Al Gore visit your bed-sit to show you his award-winning video about toxic waste. If you refuse to watch it, Al will sit on you, and that is no idle threat. He may even bring maggots. He's that kind of a guy.
a shrink - no, sweetie. You're not speaking Spanish. Doctors here, being free enterprise capitalists, don't have "lists", you sad little slave of the state.
What a provincial little world you live in. The children's table is in the next room.
I'm so pleased that you were prepared to use our code words:
hissy provincial slaves
It is you, after all! At one point in our regression therapy session yesterday, I was worried that we had lost you.
Whilst I do speak several languages (both ancient and modern) I have always regarded Spain's contribution to language as irrelevant as its contribution to world cuisine.
Oh dear - you don't live there, by any chance?
I'm so pleased that you have taken my advice to lay off the cheap gin and to try and mix with people who are of a superior intelligence to you.
I'm not a slave of the state. I'm 100% private and something tells me by the tone of your postings that you could never, ever afford me if it wasn't fpr BUPA.
We have the same political viewpoint, so let's not come to blows like you did with the previous three NHS Psychiatrists. They were all pinkoes and so deserved you.
I'm sorry that you couldn't afford to keep up your BUPA subs, but you get what you pay for. Pretending you don't know what BUPA is just another form of denial - and we've talked about that in the past, haven't we "Sweetie."?
There is no shame in being nouveau pauvre. We didn't elect the people that put you there.
Remember that we agreed you would channel your anger towards more positive ends?
Little wanabee NHS psychiatrist (do they really have them? How quaint! Do they speak English?) - This thread is about maggots. How did we descend to you?
Can we elevate the discussion?
I said I thought the Romans and the Greeks were probably aware of the beneficial qualities of maggots and I would be interested in responses.
Also, what do they do with the maggots after they've eaten all these wounds? I mean ... do they live to munch another day?
I was already aware for some time that maggots applied to open wounds will eat "dead" flesh without touching good, "live" flesh, and hence aid disinfection. Nature is a wonderful thing, is it not?
All the same though, I would prefer to see the NHS run to proper standards of hygeine so that the use of these creatures wouldn't be necessary, as many patients would belch at the thought.
18 Doughtie St - That smug Pakistani woman was the Heather McCartney of sub-continent/British whine.
She's a leftie trying to fly in under the radar of being right. She is godawful. Maybe, after Heather's divorce finally goes through, this woman could take a run at Paul McCartney. She doesn't have any disabilities, other than vapid lefty views, but she shouldn't let that stop her. She's ambitious. Good teeth.
I liked that heavy man to the left of the screen, though. Very quick, very clever, very adept. Didn't get his name, so I apologise for referring to him in these terms. He was the most interesting, most alert guest.
I don't know how to comment on email, but at least I can now receive 18 Doughty Street.
Comprehensive boy? No - but our host is, so choose your words carefully. He has more class than you could ever dream of.
We've both ex public school, as it happens and we have both come to the conclusion that you are a sad old man who pretends to be a woman.
Pity you couldn't cut it in the UK and had to move away. Perhaps your attempts at correcting punctuation are more appreciated over there, but somehow I doubt it.
A late response, and a long way from politics, sorry. Verity said:
... I thought the Romans and the Greeks were probably aware of the beneficial qualities of maggots and I would be interested in responses.
I don't think the Greeks and Romans were aware of this. The conventional wisdom of the time, going right back beyond Galen to Hippocrates, is that maggots and worms were spontaneously generated by dirt, so they were utterly unclean. This authoritative view persisted well into the Renaissance era.
So it seems likely that the use of maggots comes from a practical folk discovery -- quite likely made independently several times. But I can find no information on this.
That's interesting, Ralph, and thank you. Given their interest in medicine, their intense curiosity and their powers of observation and deduction, I am surprised about the Greeks and Romans - although I can also see that they might have thought maggots were generated spontaneously by earth.
I believe the curative powers of maggots was known by the 16th Century, though. And yes, it was probably folk observation and the realisation may have occured in several different areas of Britain and Europe at around the same time.
Ralph - I'm still surprised that neither the Romans nor the Greeks, both of whom had good scientific minds, had not noticed this, though. Despite the general beliefs at the time (I'm sure there were many medieval people who believed the same) there was a spirit of enquiry about the Greeks and the Romans which would lead one to expect that some medical man would have observed this.
29 comments:
At first I thought this was another article about Tim Ireland, until I read the article on Nadine's blog.
I won't go into much detail here as it's around about dinner time for most people but, I believe the beneficial side effects of maggots was first discovered in WW1 by wounded soldiers stranded in no-mans-land.
It was even earlier than that - maggots were widely used during the Napoleonic wars as well.
Damn sensible girl, that one.
Now, if only she's blog about the antiseptic effects of urine on wounds when nothing else is available, or the coagulating effects of spiders webs on deep flesh wounds ...
Or even on the healing qualities of Cow saliva. Back in my estate management days, with a few grains of salt as the tempter, a good cow-licking of minor wounds and abrasions encouraged quick healing and no inflamation.
Too bad she doesn't know how to spell 'pus'. I kept trying to get the connection to puss. Cat-maggots? Feline-maggots? N-o-o-o. Ailuro-maggots?
Re the urine as disinfectant, I've never understood the theory behind this because surely the urine is carrying away impurities from the body? Does anyone know the answer?
I believe the disinfectant powers of maggots on open wounds has been known since the 16th Century. Frankly, I would be surprised if the Greeks and/or the Romans hadn't observed this, a long, long time ago.
Maggots are very effective. There is a major centre in Bridgend where they breed sterile maggots for treating wounds. Beacause the dressings are transparent it is possible to see them at work. There is a story that one slightly senile lady who gave them all names.
Verity said "too bad she doesn't know how to spell 'pus'
Your're right (as ever) Verity...
it's spelt:
T
I
M
"Nadne & The Puss-Maggots"
This sounds like a great name for a band.
Where can I get some tickets for me and my many, many friends and alter egos?
You know, pretty soon Iain isn't going to be flooded with comments because all the legitimate commentators will have fled, yawning.
Here's a clue as to why: no one here cares about your hissy little provincial spats. We're not in your gang. We're not on your level. We find your sad, catty little lives too awful.
Now stop trying to poison threads or I will have Al Gore visit your bed-sit to show you his award-winning video about toxic waste. If you refuse to watch it, Al will sit on you, and that is no idle threat. He may even bring maggots. He's that kind of a guy.
Verity,
Don't I know you?
Weren't you on my list yesterday morning?
I think I may have to increase the dosage.
Can you hang on until next week's session?
a shrink - no, sweetie. You're not speaking Spanish. Doctors here, being free enterprise capitalists, don't have "lists", you sad little slave of the state.
What a provincial little world you live in. The children's table is in the next room.
Verity,
I'm so pleased that you were prepared to use our code words:
hissy
provincial
slaves
It is you, after all! At one point in our regression therapy session yesterday, I was worried that we had lost you.
Whilst I do speak several languages (both ancient and modern) I have always regarded Spain's contribution to language as irrelevant as its contribution to world cuisine.
Oh dear - you don't live there, by any chance?
I'm so pleased that you have taken my advice to lay off the cheap gin and to try and mix with people who are of a superior intelligence to you.
I'm not a slave of the state. I'm 100% private and something tells me by the tone of your postings that you could never, ever afford me if it wasn't fpr BUPA.
Sorry "Sweetie."
Sweetie shrinkie winkie - What is BUPA, caro?
Isn't that a private insurance company for people seeking healthcare who can afford to be independent of the dead hand of the communist state?
Can we elevate the discussion away from you and get back to the maggots?
Verity,
We've been here so many times before. Admit It.
Deep breaths..deep breaths..deep breaths..
We have the same political viewpoint, so let's not come to blows like you did with the previous three NHS Psychiatrists. They were all pinkoes and so deserved you.
I'm sorry that you couldn't afford to keep up your BUPA subs, but you get what you pay for. Pretending you don't know what BUPA is just another form of denial - and we've talked about that in the past, haven't we "Sweetie."?
There is no shame in being nouveau pauvre. We didn't elect the people that put you there.
Remember that we agreed you would channel your anger towards more positive ends?
Little wanabee NHS psychiatrist (do they really have them? How quaint! Do they speak English?) -
This thread is about maggots. How did we descend to you?
Can we elevate the discussion?
I said I thought the Romans and the Greeks were probably aware of the beneficial qualities of maggots and I would be interested in responses.
Also, what do they do with the maggots after they've eaten all these wounds? I mean ... do they live to munch another day?
I was already aware for some time that maggots applied to open wounds will eat "dead" flesh without touching good, "live" flesh, and hence aid disinfection. Nature is a wonderful thing, is it not?
All the same though, I would prefer to see the NHS run to proper standards of hygeine so that the use of these creatures wouldn't be necessary, as many patients would belch at the thought.
By the way,
"This thread is about maggots. How did we descend to you?"
LOL! That is wonderful!
We could only descend from this point to a discussion about John Prescott.
Or Robert Mugabe, I suppose.
Tom Tyler - I think I would prefer maggots to the NHS. Maggots are dependable, don't have targets, don't make appointments. They just munch.
Verity,
You're wonderful! (and just so predictable.) Having said that,I always enjoy your contibutions to various political blogs.
I'm not actually "A Shrink", though my wife is a doctor.
Iain has my details. If you're brave enough, send him your's and we can continue our debates off-line.
18 Doughtie St - That smug Pakistani woman was the Heather McCartney of sub-continent/British whine.
She's a leftie trying to fly in under the radar of being right. She is godawful. Maybe, after Heather's divorce finally goes through, this woman could take a run at Paul McCartney. She doesn't have any disabilities, other than vapid lefty views, but she shouldn't let that stop her. She's ambitious. Good teeth.
I liked that heavy man to the left of the screen, though. Very quick, very clever, very adept. Didn't get his name, so I apologise for referring to him in these terms. He was the most interesting, most alert guest.
I don't know how to comment on email, but at least I can now receive 18 Doughty Street.
a shrink's husband: "Having said that,I always enjoy your contibutions to various political blogs."
Liar.
I don't contribute to "various political blogs". You must be mistaking me for someone else,although I find that hard to believe.
"I'm not actually "A Shrink",".
No shit, Sherlock! I am stunned.
"...though my wife is a doctor."
And?
"Iain has my details. If you're brave enough, send him your's and we can continue our debates off-line".
Why? In God's name, why?
BTW- do you understand that "yours" is already the possessive, don't you? Why the apostrophe? Comprehensive boy are you?
Wife comprehensive too, was she? And a doctor!
Remind me of why I'm not in Britain?
Verity,
Comprehensive boy? No - but our host is, so choose your words carefully. He has more class than you could ever dream of.
We've both ex public school, as it happens and we have both come to the conclusion that you are a sad old man who pretends to be a woman.
Pity you couldn't cut it in the UK and had to move away. Perhaps your attempts at correcting punctuation are more appreciated over there, but somehow I doubt it.
Discussion - if there ever was one - over.
Maggots are the new leeches.
Realpolitik - V good!
A late response, and a long way from politics, sorry. Verity said:
... I thought the Romans and the Greeks were probably aware of the beneficial qualities of maggots and I would be interested in responses.
I don't think the Greeks and Romans were aware of this. The conventional wisdom of the time, going right back beyond Galen to Hippocrates, is that maggots and worms were spontaneously generated by dirt, so they were utterly unclean. This authoritative view persisted well into the Renaissance era.
So it seems likely that the use of maggots comes from a practical folk discovery -- quite likely made independently several times. But I can find no information on this.
That's interesting, Ralph, and thank you. Given their interest in medicine, their intense curiosity and their powers of observation and deduction, I am surprised about the Greeks and Romans - although I can also see that they might have thought maggots were generated spontaneously by earth.
I believe the curative powers of maggots was known by the 16th Century, though. And yes, it was probably folk observation and the realisation may have occured in several different areas of Britain and Europe at around the same time.
Well, before Iain starts deleting comments for sheer irrelevance, it looks as if your 16th century guess was good. I thought of the practical military surgeon and medical author Ambroise Paré (1509-90) and sure enough he does mention maggots; but there is an even older recommendation in a work called the Hortus Sanitatis, 1491. And that, of course, is not the date of the discovery, simply when it made it into surviving literature.
In a pretty motley and feeble collection of findings with Google, this page seems reliable:
http://www.zoobiotic.org/intro-to-maggot/history
Will now shut up about maggots. Sorry about this excursion.
Ralph - I'm still surprised that neither the Romans nor the Greeks, both of whom had good scientific minds, had not noticed this, though. Despite the general beliefs at the time (I'm sure there were many medieval people who believed the same) there was a spirit of enquiry about the Greeks and the Romans which would lead one to expect that some medical man would have observed this.
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