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Caduceus Newsletter: Summer 2005.03 -- August |
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1. More news from Dr. Mzungu Lungu, AKA Manny Patel,
reporting from Hope Village, Uganda. Stacey
Bourg’s account of traveling to and practicing medicine in Manali, India, in 6 parts:
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1.More news from
Dr. Mzungu Lungu, AKA Manny Patel, reporting from
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Hey guys, I am glad to hear that everything is going great for everyone
in their respective places (Brazil, Cali, and
Memphis)...I regret to inform you that this will be my last email for about 2
and a half weeks. We are heading back to the village and will finish up
our study. We will be passing through they still have this premonition
that I am already a doctor so they want me to assist in the delivery.
But don’t worry, there is a midwife, and I have been reading up on how to
deliver a baby in my book: Where there is no doctor: African edition. The women in village. For one, I have never been so appreciative for a washer
and dryer. Men in daily set of chores like cooking
(I make a some damn good Garlic Mash Potatoes) and laundry (Ed. Note:
YOU POOR THING!!). I make sure that when I do laundry, I do
it inside our hut so that the other women don’t see me doing it. I
don’t want the women to start a rebellion against the other men in the
village since they don’t do their laundry. Another thing that I am
appreciative for is clean water from the taps (only in The bad part about the bore hole is that it has been contaminated with typhoid. About a week ago there had been some heavy rains, and since the bore hole taps a very shallow spring, the water may have been contaminated by some urine or feces from a nearby pit latrine. A couple of people got infected from the water since they didn’t bother boiling it. In response to this, I went into town and bought 4 jerry cans and also a huge pot as well as a funnel and some other equipment. We held a town meeting that same night and decided to implement a new program on boiling water for the village. So far it has worked and we even have the kids involved in the program. We have also taught some HIV and sex education classes. This was real interesting and the students had lots of questions (can’t go into details since it is confidential). When we get back we will continue our research and start teaching classes about malaria prevention and basic tropical diseases. This will be interesting because many of the people believe that whenever they get sick, they always say it is Malaria. Outside of research, we have been teaching the students kick ball. They love the game. I have also taught them a different kind of game with soccer (Purvin, you know the game. It is the one with 4 teams and each team is named for a country). Well I guess that is about all I have to say, so I will talk to you later and I hope that everyone is doing fine. Manny Patel p.s. I get back into the States on Aug 2, and I will be glad to share many of my photos. |
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2. A free Guide to Science
Writing Manual, from The Journal of Young Investigators (JYI). (Thanks to Donald Samulack,
Ph.D., Director, Department of Scientific Editing of
St. Jude Children's |
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The Journal of Young Investigators (JYI) recently launched a Resources Section, which features a Guide to Science Writing Manual. This 45-page manual is free for download at http://www.jyi.org/resources/rs.php/. You will also find a PowerPoint seminar for use along with the manual. Donald Samulack, Ph.D. Director, Department of Scientific Editing Tel.: (901) 495-2162 |
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3a. Stacey Bourg (CBU
alum and M-2 at LSU) diary:
Part I – July 4, 2005: Half-way
there! |
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I arrived in Dr. Philip called just as I arrived at the Y to let me know they had accidentally booked my bus ticket for the wrong day. They have rebooked, but I am now on the NON-air-conditioned coach! The adventures are already piling up and I am off to get some more sleep. Grace, Stacey |
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3b. Stacey Bourg (CBU alum and M-2) diary:
Part II – July 5, 2005: Manali at last! |
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Yesterday afternoon, I went to the bus office to collect
my ticket. Prayers from everyone must be working because I utterly
avoided "true There was a small snafu at the bus office, I believe
generated in large part due to my lack of Hindi-speaking abilities. The
man insisted they had no ticket for me. I had the man call Dr. Philip
to help sort out something only to find that the number was essentially long
distance from Most of the people on the coach were European. I sat
next to 3 very nice Danes who were headed for some "extreme
trekking." They were all too happy to share that the good people
of I finally tracked down Dr. Anna and got squared away after
the best cup of tea I have ever had! I had a wash- there is not shower,
just a faucet sticking out of the wall at about 4'- and went to the mess for
lunch. SPICY!! It was curried vegetables of some sort and
rice. There I met Sam, from Next came dinner. SPICY!! Curried vegetables of some sort and what is essentially a pita. I have walked into town with Ian and Lucy to use the internet. It feels so good to be here and not on my WAY here!!! A 3.5 day journey makes you truly appreciate your destination. Tomorrow I am in the wards. Hopefully the rain will stop and I can take a dry walk at lunch. Thank you for all of your prayers, thoughts, and support. Grace, Stacey |
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3c.
Stacey Bourg (CBU alum and M-2 at LSU) diary: Part III – July 7, 2005: Surgery Indian Style |
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Surgery in Everyone scrubs for surgery with the same bar of soap- and definitely not for 6 minutes Gloves are REUSED!!! Although they tell me they are sterilized between uses. You wear the same cap and mask for the entire day in theater. Everyone wears open sandals that have been autoclaved with NO booties- my feet were covered in a mix of used saline and urine after a urological procedure today- not to worry, though. Everything here is TB- a mass in the ear, a tumor on the thumb, a cyst in the foot- TB. I have seen some of the most amazing chest films and from what I gather here- they aren't that impressive for the seriousness locally. No post-op Abx until you look nearly septic! I did get to assist in most procedures and do some sewing. I hear I may get to do some spinal blocks before I leave. Today we did a placenta previa C/S, grade III hemorrhoidectomy, l. node removal, two growth resections- one in foot and other breast, a tumor resection on the thumb with grafting, an RPG, 3 EGD, and an appendectomy. It finally stopped raining today!!! It started
raining on 3 July. It is now evening of 7
July and the rain has just stopped. It does not stop us though.
The Scottish students and I trekked through town up the hill to Old Manali last night in the rain. The So far I really like it. Some of the doctors are taking a bit of time to warm to us, but Dr. Philip and the other surgeon are brilliantly warm. I really enjoy being in the operating theater and today was the small cases. Tuesdays are for larger cases and I cannot wait! Grace and peace, Stacey |
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3d. Stacey Bourg (CBU alum and
M-2 at LSU diary: Part IV – July 13,
2005: Culturally different social
manners |
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I am having a bit of difficulty adjusting to what are some
fairly different social graces here in Manali, if
not most of the region. To say please or thank you is rather foreign to
most people. I have been in the Similarly, I apologized for an incision that I made that was not totally correct and Dr. Philip looked at me as if I had just made the strangest comment he had heard. It is very strange for me not to say please and thank you. Moreover, it is quite bizarre to me that some do not apologize for having a rotten attitude because it was a bad day. We all have them, but I am quite accustomed to people amending their sour attitudes. Really it is nothing bothersome, but it is quite strange. We have al;l noticed it. Lucy, my roommate who I believe has visited the better part of the world, said that this is the first time that she has encountered such social behaviours as well. This weekend I am heading up to Hope everyone at home is well! Lots of love, Stacey |
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3e. Stacey Bourg (CBU alum
and M-2 at LSU diary: Part V – July
15, 2005: Traffic Jams – Manali Style |
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Let me preface with this- I wish the connection was not dial-up, because a picture is truly better than words in this case. Here in Manali and Old Manali, the roads are truly just plain chaotic. Sidewalks abruptly end, not that you use them because here it is not common for large crowds to sprawl the entire width of the sidewalk and just linger. So here is a glimpse at what you encounter on the roads, which will lead nicely into the unexpected sightings of this afternoon. Rickshaws working to squeeze into spaces too narrow or too full of people and having a war of the horns to see who will give way first. Common. Rickshaws blazing down the hills without their engines because the grade is steep enough to allow for a rapid coast and clipping you in the side with their wing mirrors. Common. In fact, it has happened to me twice- luckily as most of you know I am quite "graceful" when attempting to recover my balance! A herd of cattle just meandering down the road. Common. A man offering to sell me the finest hashish in all of the Kullu valley- which incidentally, grows like kudzu here. Common. Traffic yielding to a stray yak moving up the hill. Common. Gimpy goats and donkeys idling in the middle of oncoming traffic. Common. A sudden increase in Tibetan monks wandering around Manali and the surrounding villages- a retreat at one of the temples perhaps. Common. The stench of failure to wash from the hippie-like trekkers and backpackers from Europe and A gigantic elephant prancing past the gates of LWH- totally unexpected. And let me just say, that this is not simply me being a westerner who has never seen an elephant outside of the Shriner's circus or zoo. There was quite a crowd following and cheering as this giant gentle creature quietly plodded down the road up to the main road. Sadly, I did not capture a picture, but I am hoping to see it again. I really should learn to never leave my room without my camera. I must apologize for always saying road, but most of them are not named here. For example, the bookstore I visited yesterday has the following address- The Bookworn Manali, dt. Kullu (near the post office) One other quippy story- I bought
a sachet of Tide washing powder to do my wash. Truly it is Tide made
for 1. Fill a bucket half full with water. 2. Rinse the dirt from the clothing. 3. Refill the bucket half way with clean water and add the contents of sachet. 4. Let sit for 30 minutes. Find me a pack of wash powder at home that tells you to fill a bucket! I just hope that ti is cleaning and not simply refreshing the smell, since I see 10-15 cases of TB/day and get covered in a myriad of juices from any number of orifices in the theatre. Graphic- I know! I love this place! A very busy day was had in OPD. But, mostly bread
and butter things for Hugs to everyone, Stacey |
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3f. Stacey Bourg (CBU alum and
M-2 at LSU diary: Part VI – July
19, 2005: Old man Giardia |
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Giardia lamblia trophozoites become metabolically active in the small
intestine. |
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I thought that I was in the clear- only a week to go and I have had no run-ins with any sort of personal health problem. So much for wishful thinking- old man Giardia has begun to take up residence in my small intestine. Early stages and you can buy Flagyl to treat it in the Chemist stores on the street. So no worries- but I guess this means no curry for me for a couple of days. All of that aside, it has been an amazing time. As I
enter my last week, I can say I have seen things I am not likely to see in
the I have had what I came for- continuity of community. I have developed relationships with several of the foreign patients (namely easier as they speak English). Many of the patients who were on the wards for a while when I arrived or I assisted on their surgery, or I have seen them in the antenatal care clinic see me on the street and we exchange pleasantries. I have seen them working in their stalls and selling their wares. I have had discounts all over town as well as in Old Manali from people I have treated or recognize me from the mission hospital. I am quite saddened not to have more time in community with them. I have become quite fond of my phone calls to come to OPD, no matter where I was, to see the foreign backpackers and hippies. Most of the doctors at the hospital are quite cynical with them and do not really care to treat them if they do not have to do so. I have relished some of their stories of why they are here and what their situations are- even if some of them are blowing smoke up my rear. They are the most colourful group of characters. I have seen a darker side- of patients wanting to speak with me and taking my word, but not the doctors- despite it being one and the same- simply due to my lighter skin tone. It is not so frequent, but it is not unexpected either. I have relished my time just sitting on my verandah hearing the very western sound of basketball at the school intermingling with the sounds of drums and flutes sounding for an event at one of the Tibetan temples. All the time, gazing upon the most magnificent scenery I have had the opportunity to view on God's earth. To top that, it surrounds me in 360 degrees. My walks have been equally wonderful- mucking about and not so much worrying about the destination, but what and who you see along the way. In my last longish week of Manali and LWH, and all of their characters and faces, I am going to wring out as much as is possible. The monsoons, the chaos of the streets, the oxymorons of healthcare here, the streams of monks in town, my fantastic new Scottish and Canadian friends, the amazing doctors and nurses who give over their lives to the hospital and people of the region- just a taste of my time here. Thanks for all of the encouragement, prayers, emails and phone chats. See you at the end of the month. So this is the last mass email from Grace and a hug, Stacey The view from here…
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Giardia lamblia doesn’t cause any old type of diarrhea – it causes
EXPLOSIVE diarrhea!! YEE-HA!! |
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4. Received this month |
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Stony Brook University Health
Sciences Center (Stony
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5. All
in a day’s work…tracking jaguars in |
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I am working on the jaguar ecology and conservation project in the Pantanal. I am staying at Caiman ranch which is absolutely gorgeous. We ride horses a lot because the roads don't all go where we have to in order to radio-track the jaguars. The capture was in June and was awesome. Totally crazy, but it was awesome to be chasing jaguars through the woods. The jaguar in the picture is the only one I have seen while I've been here. I work with Dr. Claudia Ferro full-time but Dr. Leandro Silveira is my mentor for the summer. |
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Dr. Stan Eisen,
650
E-mail: seisen@cbu.edu
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/
Caduceus Newsletter Archives: http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/Caduceus.html