FRDB Archives

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.


Go Back   FRDB Archives > Archives > IIDB ARCHIVE: 200X-2003, PD 2007 > IIDB Philosophical Forums (PRIOR TO JUN-2003)
Welcome, Peter Kirby.
You last visited: Today at 05:55 AM

 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 05-21-2003, 01:07 PM   #1
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 1,827
Default Doctors/Medical Scientists: How Could This Man Possibly Live!?

DO NOT CLICK THIS LINK IF IMAGES OF BLOOD AND/OR GRIEVOUS WOUNDS OFFENDS OR NAUSEATES YOU


I understand maggots were once used to treat necrotic wounds to remove the dead tissue. But this is just too wierd.

Also, how could somebody possibly go without noticing this wound? You'd think when he went to shampoo or comb or touch his head this would become apparent to him.

Also, how long is it likely that he lived after the infestation departed (if it ever did)?
Feather is offline  
Old 05-21-2003, 02:05 PM   #2
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Southeast of disorder
Posts: 6,829
Default

It's rather unclear, but according to the bottom part of the article, the condition of the brain and skull as shown are the result of a type of cancer, not insect infestation.
Philosoft is offline  
Old 05-21-2003, 02:08 PM   #3
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 1,827
Default

Yes, but he's got a huge myiasis infestation in his brain. I'd think they'd eventually eat through all the important bits. I'm just curious as to how it is that it didn't happen this way, I guess.
Feather is offline  
Old 05-21-2003, 02:19 PM   #4
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,762
Default

I'd suppose maggots only eat dead tissue?
Calzaer is offline  
Old 05-21-2003, 03:29 PM   #5
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: The centre of infinity
Posts: 1,181
Default

Sure.It looks like he's still got most of his brain.There are people who've lived on far less,and maggots do only eat dead flesh.They're damn effective,too.I doubt that a better way of getting rid of necrotic flesh will come along soon.

I'll bet he's still alive,unless the cancer got him,or he died of old age.Of course,it goes without saying,that he's likely to be crazier than a shithouse rat,if he let this go on for as long as he did.
Azathoth is offline  
Old 05-22-2003, 10:51 AM   #6
Regular Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 204
Default

Yuck
johngalt is offline  
Old 05-25-2003, 09:37 PM   #7
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: WV
Posts: 4,369
Default

Actually maggots eat away infection and are even occasionally used as a medical treatment for people with sores/wounds that won't heal.

There have been many real cases of people coming into hospitals (often off the streets with mental conditions) who have horrifying wounds crawling with maggots. Removing the maggots often causes death shortly after.

So there's nothing to be disgusted about. If you have a wound, maggots are good.
emphryio is offline  
Old 05-26-2003, 10:55 AM   #8
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Alberta
Posts: 1,049
Default

Doesn't that make your scalp itch?

I would suspect that the man's brain was not exposed and open to the air like that for a long time. Perhaps a "crust" of necrotic tissue and matted hair had been in place - this could have allowed flies to enter and deposit their eggs. You can imagine this guy standing at a bank lineup with the people behind him wondering why the smelly guy in front of them is attracting flies.

God, that makes me itch even more!
Late_Cretaceous is offline  
Old 05-26-2003, 12:49 PM   #9
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Bucharest, Romania
Posts: 29
Default

I've heard of maggots used in the treatment of gangrenous plagues(they only eat dead tissue). Apparently they can also be used in treating dead brain tissue... The method itself is quite interesting, considering that the worms are cheap to produce and their 'cleaning' of the wound is very effective.
Dan<Devil> is offline  
Old 05-26-2003, 07:21 PM   #10
Regular Member
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 127
Default

Well, I can't say you didn't warn me...

But EWWWWWWW!
That is nasty!
Uhm, I have absolutely no relevant comment but to contribute my sense of disgust.
Gnomelord is offline  
 

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:58 PM.

Top

This custom BB emulates vBulletin® Version 3.8.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2015, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.