Improvements to your impression

[NoahBriggs]

I am borrowing this topic from the military forum. what sort of projects are you working on this winter? This is my response from that thread.
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Currently reading both primary and secondary sources to compile a medical reenactor's pharmaceutical manual. It will have descriptions of the substances, what they were used for, sample prescriptions, how to make a non-lethal reproduction which looks (and sometimes tastes) like the real thing and has a picture of the item properly packaged.

There is more to treating diarrhea than just blue mass.

I now have a wooden box to hold my bottles. Now it's a matter of getting to an event and not get pulled over by a zealous cop who thinks my meds in a box are the ingredients for a meth lab. There are almost a hundred pharma items in a surgeon's pannier. This will obviously be an ongoing project.

I have also taken pictures of my surgical instruments. It's my intention in the future to work on a reenactor's surgical manual.

In the meantime I have been liquidating my old stuff to bring in money to get better-quality stuff.

[TimKindred]

Noah,

I've been restocking my medical supplies through purchase and fabrication. Although it's not terribly expensive, it's still labour-intensive to produce bandages, tourniquets and sponges. Currently, I have about 6doz each of 1" & 2" roller bandages, and about 8doz sponges. I am awaiting the material for the tourniquest straps, but should be able to produce 3 doz disposable field tourniquests.

Then, of course, their is wrapping and labeling them. I am trying to acquire some blank prescription forms, diet order sheets, etc, so as to see about producing a proper surgeon's order book.

I'm also adjusting the various medical containers to reflect issue Federal items as well as CS manufactured and issued items, plus commercially available. That means different lists, labels, and containers depending upon the scenario and theatre.

Lastly, producing appropriate labels and packaging for sutures and other disposal material.

Personally, I am trying to regain my health. I've had a very long bout of pneumonia this winter, and although it's finally been beaten, my system is still recovering. The positive side is that it has jump started my weight-loss program. sigh.......

Additionally, trying to pare down stuff while retaining the maximum amount of impression flexibility. Always a challenge.

And of course, I'm still trying to convince SWMBO that the tax refund could be spent on a period ambulance....... at least a pannier, and a couple of proper litters, if nothing else.

Respects,

[Marc]

Tim old friend please take care of your health.

Once I get relocated in the spring I too plan to expand my medical displays etc. This old soldier enjoys the medical aspect and also as in the past sharing times with you and also Noah who has come a long way since I first met him. Glad to see a younger person with such an interest in the medical aspects of the war.

[TimKindred]

Marc, Comrade,

Thanks for the kind words. The past three years have been a long drawn out series of issues that, hopefully, are resolved sufficient to allow more participation in the coming years. We shall see, but I am an eternal optimist, and have set several events upon my calendar.

As to our dear friend Noah, it is wonderful to see his interests and enthusiasm for the subject, and he is quite well-informed and an excellent presenter. I should also mention Hank Trent, who is always well prepared and a cut above most of the rest of us. I feel that things will be well represented in the future.

I look forward to seeing you again. It's been far too long. Please accept my warmest regards, and I remain.

Respectfully,

["Doc" Nelson]

Hello Folks,
I apologize that I haven't been on here much. Just becoming a little tired of the same ol' "us vs. them" testosterone being thrown around. Besides, I've been quite busy over the past 2 months.

Now, as far as "improvements". I've been working on creating my medicine supplies and "studying" a couple of different books/manuals. I picked up "Doctor to the Front: The Recollections of Confederate Surgeon Thomas Fanning Wood, 1861-1865". It has been pretty good, so far. It has a very good "first person" view from that of a Field Surgeon (well, an Assistant Surgeon). The book is his personal recollections of his time in the Army, during the war. It doesn't just start with his enlistment into service. It begins with him as a youth and, pursuing his dream of studying medicine. His recollections give a very good view on, well, just about every aspect in the daily life of a Field Surgeon. The other books, well, they are actually manuals. One is "A Manual of Military Surgery, by SD Gross, MD 1861". The other is "A Manual of Military Surgeon, (Confederate States Army), 1863".

I've also been working on "upgrading" my gear, uniform, equipment and such. So, hopefully, I'll feel refreshed once I hit the field again.

[TimKindred]

Doc,

Good for you. I look forward to meeting up with you in the field this coming year. I do apologise for being tardy in my responses to your emails. it's not for a lack of interest in the subjects, i assure you. Just a forgetful mind and a full plate. If you like, you are alwasy welcome to phone me and we can discourse to your heart's content.

Respects,

["Doc" Nelson]

Good for you.

Thank you .

I look forward to meeting up with you in the field this coming year.

I hope so. Both, Noah and yourself, have been ever so helpful in my study of period medicine.

I do apologise for being tardy in my responses to your emails. it's not for a lack of interest in the subjects, i assure you. Just a forgetful mind and a full plate. If you like, you are alwasy welcome to phone me and we can discourse to your heart's content.

Please, there is no need for an apology. And, I thank you, so incredibly much, for your responses. You have given me so much insight into this field. And, I am indebted to you for that. Again, thank you.

[muzik212]

I have been working on a Squibb pannier, just got the metal work pieces in and am now trying to find the perfect bottles.

I have also been attempting to reproduce my own medical tins but I'm having a tough time making a good sand cast for the pewter spouts.

I have also started to make a new backback using a wicker frame and tin drawers. I was able to go to the Horse Soldier and check out the original they have. Im hoping to have it ready by mid season.

Other then that reading reading reading and some more reading

[TimKindred]

Sean,

Have you considered using an 2-peice RTV rubber mold rather than the sand cast? It would mean filing the seam, but that's easily enough done.

I've been trying to obtain an original tin in order to copy the spout, but no luck as yet.

Do let us know how the pannier is working out.

Respects,

[muzik212]

Jim,

I have not, I had been going with sand as it all I had to work with but the results are certainly less then desireable. I did find a few sources this weekend for making rubber casts through some toy solider supply sites. Should I get a good one together Ill post up the results!

Take care,
Sean