England beat Germany at Football (US AKA Soccer) last week . The last time was just 55 years ago in 1966 in the final of the World Cup. I remember it well. I was trapped at that precise time at a fancy wedding reception in a large tent outside a posh house near London. No […]
The last time England beat Germany Read More »
Our postponed Annual GI and Hepatology conference will be held in person at the Mills House Hotel in Charleston on October 9 2021. We are celebrating the 50 years of the GI Division, and hope that many MUSC Alumni will register and attend. There is an “International virtual” option for overseas friends. Hope to see
MUSC GI Update conference Oct 9 Read More »
This story started with my left knee, which has troubled me intermittently for many years. Preparing for an appointment about it recently I thought that the new young specialist (they are all young now) might be interested to see my series of x-ray pictures from way back. Why am I telling you? I will explain.
Illustrating endoscopy 50 years ago Read More »
Who was Harold Hopkins? And why reflections? I will explain. Like most gastroenterologists, and countless patients, I am greatly in his debt. Hopkins was largely responsible for laying the groundwork for the development of “fibrescopes” (Englishspeak for fiberscopes), the flexible medical instruments like colonoscopes with which many of my readers (if there are any) will
Reflecting on and with Harold Hopkins Read More »
Apologies to my medical readers, if any. This is all rather basic, but there is something to chew on towards the end. Surgical removal of the gall bladder is one of the commonest operations performed nowadays. Close to a million people undergo “cholecystectomy” every year in USA. There are several good indications for surgery, but
Don’t give up your gall bladder too easily Read More »
If you kindly read about how golf (in USA) started in cHarleston, you may be wondering what sort of equipment might have been used at that time. I cannot tell you, except to read that “432 balls and 96 clubs were sent from the Scottish port Leith to Charleston in 1743”. We do know that
Golfing down memory lane Read More »
Joke? No. Typo? No. I will explain Most people think that the game of golf, as we now know and love/hate it, arose in Scotland. It has certainly blossomed there over more than 500 years. James II asked his parliament in 1457 to prohibit “golfe” because he needed the young folk to practice their archery
Golf started in cHarleston…honest Read More »
Thank you for reading my blogs, at least this one, at least this far. Most have had a medical theme, and this one will too if you persist beyond the first paragraphs. You may not know that I have also been writing books for children about Fred the friendly snake, beautifully illustrated by Bonnie Lemaire.
Fred the Snake, bleeding, barbers and their striped poles Read More »
When I was a young doctor, a long time ago, it was not difficult to distinguish medical physicians from surgeons. Physicians, at least in England, wore smart pin-striped suits and carried stethoscopes. They managed patients with sympathy and medicines. Surgeons wore pyjamas and gloves, and looked for things to connect, drain or remove. The distinctions
Time to retire the labels “Medicine” and “Surgery” after 400 years Read More »
About 8% of people, at least in Western countries, are born with the pancreas in two pieces, so called “pancreas divisum”. It is about as common as left-handedness, and ten times that of red hair. How come, and who cares? Some technical stuff to get started. The human pancreas is formed from two parts which
Do you have a two-bit pancreas? You well might…better read on. Read More »
