The course continues. Still interesting. Still a lot to take in, and I feel like I ought to be remembering everything, which is obviously impossible when someone's talking to you from eight in the morning till five in the afternoon. That's what notes are for, of course, and I haven't taken this many since medical school. It's like a week-long flashback. Leaves my brain a bit fried at the end of the day.
Tonight I looked up one of the historical records the instructor mentioned on Monday:
On the Uncertainty of the Signs of Murder in the Case of Bastard Children, by William Hunter, 1818
That is, it concerns children born out of wedlock being killed, not murders done by bastards. It makes for fairly unpleasant, if interesting, reading, especially once you get past the introduction and read about the individual cases.
I remember a child which was found in a compressed state and globular form, and, like hardened dough, had retained all the concave impressions which had been made where any part of the skin and flesh had been pressed inwards. The jury had got an opinion that this moulding of the flesh could not have happened, except the infant had been put into that compressed state while it was alive. My anatomical employments enabled me to remove all their doubts about the fact. I offered to make the experiment before them, if they pleased; the child should be laid in warm water, till its flesh should become soft and pliable, as in a body just dead; then it should be compressed, and remain so till cold, and then they would see the same effect produced. They were satisfied, without making the trial.Emphasis mine. I'll bet they were. The whole thing is quite sad, especially when you think it still happens today. If not for quite the same reasons... Or, well, I suppose it is essentially for the same reasons. Feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope.
...Well, there's a cheerful post for almost Valentine's Day. I'll be glad to go home on Friday.
63 comments:
I so look forward to our evenings tucked up in bed, discussing grisly murders...
Right now, I just look forward to being tucked up in bed with you doing anything at all.
tonight that would be 'clinging to you for warmth'. Sherlock's duvet covers approximately half of me. I'm going to borrow Mycroft's, too.
There's an extra blanket in that plastic storage thing under the bed too. Underneath the wrapping paper. No I don't know why I thought that was a good idea.
Did Sherlock fall aslleep on the sofa?
Danger - I got the blanket from the sofa, Mycroft's duvet and Sherlock's, I'll be okay :) Going to turn in. Speak to you tomorrow. Have a good day.
Anon - no, his own bed, under a large mound of our duvet - king sized, compared to his kid-sized...
Good night. Sleep well.
Well, if Sherlock can't have John, I suppose the duvet is the next best thing. :)
Good night, gentlemen!
Morning all. May the day bring you all lots of love.
Miss you, John. Love you more each day.
Happy hearts-and-flowers day! :)
I'm really looking forward to hearing about you date, Sherlock and L--the plans we've heard about sound excellent. I hope your day is going well, John, and that your postponed celebration is lovely.
Meanwhile, have a buggy-riding parrot!: https://sites.google.com/site/birdbuggy109/media
Also, check out today's Google doodle--and see what happens when you click (or double click) the heart... :)
L - I love you too. I hope you're having a good day. Very happy I get to come home tomorrow.
Happy Valentine's Day John, L., Sherlock, Mycroft, to all your family and to everyone who's part of this bigger community.
I hope everyone's day is full of love and happiness ;)
LyricalSinger
John talking about medical school, just a quick question...
How on earth do you remember everything? We're 10weeks until our big 2nd year exams and the sheer amount of material to learn! Stress is starting to set in a little...
Happy Valentine's everyone, especially to the two boys on their date :P
Revise until your brain starts dribbling out your ears, take a brief break, drink coffee, repeat until you pass exams or lose consciousness? That's what I did. Probably not the healthiest strategy, but there you go... Good luck!
Seriously though, you probably already remember more than you think you do. Don't let the stress get to you.
LyricalSinger - thanks, I hope it's a good day for you too. :)
I'm trying to cut down on coffee, I slept/ate so little and drank so much caffeine this week I started having palpitations and heartburn...but it's downright impossible.
I don't think I remember anything yet, my current strategy involves a lot of studying then having a fun night to relax when I start giggling maniacally at everything.
I also read my notes out into a tape recorder so I could listen to them - I learn better hearing things than reading them. Don't know if that'll do you any good, but it might give your eyes a rest at least.
I don't know if it will help you, Jaws, but there are some psychological studies that show that people learn better when they put information into their own words or otherwise reorganize the material in some way. (I used to make outlines of my notes, then put them back into regular text.) That may well be a factor in why taping your notes worked for you, John, especially if you rephrased them while reading--you were just ahead of the research!
John can you call me if you see this. Don't worry, we're...sort of okay. I mean, we're okay. If I don't answer the phone don't worry about it, is what I mean, and I'll get back to you. Love you.
Called you... no answer. trying not to worry. what's happened?
I BROKEN MY ARM AND LESTRADE ISN'T MY DAD AND I CAN HAVE A PURPLE CAST
You... How? Are you all right? I mean... I suppose you're all right enough to post about purple casts. Okay. You're getting that done now? and can you have Lestrade call me please? when he can. I love you.
Sorry, didn't realise he'd commented on here. We don't know if he's broken it - waiting for x-rays. I had to sort out Mrs Holmes calling them or something, because I'm not related to him. The doctor said if it is broken he might get a purple cast. I'll call.
He was being a bat, in the park on the climbing frame. He failed to launch. I was right there, talking to some of the mums but...well, he seems okay now. He cried a lot at first, but once we were at the hospital and he'd had some painkillers he's just reverted to interrogating everyone. I think he's okay? I don't know. I'll ring you
Oh, boy, Sherlock, that's quite a different day than you had planned! A purple cast sounds very cheerful, that's what I would choose. And I hope you feel better soon!
(You okay, L?)
All right. Thanks. Sorry, moment of ridiculous panic. You doing all right too?
I'm...yeah, okay. I think. Better now he's a bit more perky. Your panic can't have been more or more ridiculous than mine when he hit the floor. He'd just been calling me to watch him and I'd told him to wait because I was talking and then there was just a thud and a moment later he started screaming. Think I've lost a few years off my life.
Xrays ready, gotta go
Been there, done that, had the arm in traction.
All the best L.
I can imagine. All too vividly. All right, call me when you can. Love you.
I hope you're both as okay as possible, and that Sherlock's injury isn't serious.
I'm sure he'll be all right. Try not to worry and I'll do the same, okay? Are you doing okay? All packed for tomorrow?
Got an armful of Sherlock, going back to A&E they're sending the xrays on the computer he was very good and asked lots of questions until it hurt they don't think it's serious but the doc will tell us
How's he holding up? I wish I were there.
I hope it's not too bad! Get well soon, Sherlock -and a purple cast is a nice idea, if it's really broken.
And try not to worry too much, L. It could have happened any time, it's no ones fault.
Think he does too. He keeps telling everyone you're a doctor.
He's okay when there's someone he can quiz about things. Not so good when we're waiting. Very cuddly, but also cautious. His arm's in a big orange splint in a sling at the moment. he's also hungry and thirsty but he's not allowed anything until they're sure he won't need an op to reset any bones. So generally miserable.
Poor kid. I hope you both get to get out of there soon. Well. As soon as possible. And Tina's right, it's absolutely not your fault, you know that, right?
Doc said it's not too bad. A Taurus fracture? he said it was more like the bone buckled than has broken, because he's young and his bone's soft. He won't need an op, he needs to wear a splint they're going to give him until Saturday probably and then he'll get his cast. Purple if wanted. He's eating a biscuit now and begging the doc for his xrays
And yeah. Knowing it and feeling it aren't the same though, you know? I'm staying home with him tomorrow.
Torus, yeah. Good. That's not so bad. How's the doctor dealing with all his questions?
Yeah, I know, love.
I was really brave the man said and my splint is blue
I'm sorry you're hurt Sherlock, I hope you feel better soon.
Greg, good luck with sorting this out in your head, we can all tell you stories of it happening to us and ours but I know that wouldn't help you much really. Be good to yourself and to Sherlock :-)
Sherlock - I'm sure you were very brave indeed. Are you going to get people at school to sign your cast when you get it?
Good for you for being brave, Sherlock! And blue is a good color, too. I hope you aren't hurting much, and that it gets better fast.
What everyone said, L--kids get hurt and adults blame themselves, but it's just what is, truly.
YES except that won't be until after half term but you and Mrs Hudson and Mycroft and Anthea can sign it first and Lestrade too and EVERYONE kept saying he was my Dad and he isn't and I had to KEEP saying and we're getting pizza and ice cream now
Did you tell them all he was your DI? What sort of pizza are getting?
Oh, ouch, Sherlock. It sounds like you've been ever so brave about it all. Have you found out anything interesting from asking people questions?
Lestrade - echoing everyone's comments, and like Anoybob said, be good to yourself, yeah? Sounds like lots of hugs and cuddles needed this evening.
John, Mycroft - just one more sleep till you're both back in the madhouse :-)
We're getting pepperoni, apparently. And garlic bread. And having ice cream with sauce and sprinkles and anything else you can think of.
He got very...loud, when the second person asked if he was going to be brave and hold his Daddy's hand...yelled 'He's not my Dad!' in themiddle of A&E, meaning I got very strange looks and the nursing staff started asking a lot of questions.
He looks very small with his huge white sling on.
AND they wouldn't let me have my xrays because they're mean and I told the doctor so
Of course he did... Life's never dull, is it. Mrs Holmes sorted it all out though?
Yeah, I don't know what she said. I showed them my warrant card, they whispered and made phonecalls, it was all fine.
Sherlock has just realised he'll have a cast for Jo and Lisa's wedding. Apparently every single guest is going to have to sign it. And he still wants to dance.
There won't be any room left on it by the time he gets back to school...
Oh my goodness. Sherlock, I'm sorry you got hurt, but it sounds like you've been very brave and you'll have a story to tell when you're back at school. And a purple cast is very cool!
Lestrade - I'll add my 2 cents along with everyone else: just remember it was an accident, no one is a fault. But you're right - knowing something and believing it are two different things. I think after your pizza party you and Sherlock should have a nice cuddle on the sofa and maybe Skype a certain Doctor.
John, hope things are OK at your end ; )
Just remember guys, tomorrow you'll all be back together (and that includes you, Mycroft).
Rest and take care.
LyricalSinger
I'm sorry you're hurt, Sherlock, and I hope you feel better soon.
Lestrade, I hope you two still have a good evening, and that you're not feeling too badly.
Enjoy your pizza!
My father has been known to say something along the lines of "once you've been there so often that you are on first name terms with all the surgeons at the Children's Hospital you get quite blase about it all."
I was a rather energetic, fearless, and utterly un-coordinated child.
Coloured casts are way cool, and lighter than the plaster ones!
he says it hurts, but he's had the painkillers they told me to give him. Does he just have to tough it out? Can we skype you? might distract him
Yeah, of course. I'll be on in a minute.
which arm is it Sherlock? You sound like you're being very brave, I hope the pizza helped you feel better :-)
I think probably a broken arm gets you out of homework for now. Have you had ice cream?
Thankfully his left, AnonyBob, or I think he'd be far more upset.
He's had ice cream. He still wants more, but earlier he said he felt sick...so I've promised him we'll do some nice things tomorrow if he feels like it.
Wise. I'm sure he's more worn out than he thinks he is and more sugar will only keep him up later.
That's good then or as good as it can be anyway :-)
We're on the sofa with a duvet, and Sherlock's arm is all rested up on a pillow. He's fairly excited that he doesn't have to wash properly. He seems to be finding quite a few things to be happy about.
And now he's cheering on some vampire bats trying to eat penguins on the TV
brilliant :-) I hope you're doing ok as well?
Cuddling up and shouting at the telly sounds like the perfect way to spend the evening :-)
He seems to be finding quite a few things to be happy about.
That's a good thing.
Sherlock, I'm sorry you got hurt. It sounds like you are being very good for Lestrade and John. If you must have a cast, a purple one with lots of signatures sounds about right.
Lestrade, it sounds like you are taking excellent care of him and did all the right things. Do take care of yourself as well.
John, it's hard to be away when our youngsters are feeling poorly. Be gentle with yourself about that.
Mycroft, you are a very caring friend and brother. I hope this hasn't been too upsetting, and that everyone being together tomorrow will be strengthening. For all of you.
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