Look-a-like Medicines

[NoahBriggs]

Ain't no offense taken. I merely wrote down what I did, to help reinforce Harry's remarks on what he would do with fake meds.

[TJ6]

I've been concerned about allergies too, and usually ask in a low voice if they are allergic to anything. It is amazing what people are allergic to.

Not being able to find the previously suggested representatives of blue mass, I made a stiff dough out of flour and water lightly colored blue with blue food coloring. I rolled it out in a long "snake" and cut off pieces, pressing them into round balls, and let them dry. They look like the blue mass pills in the pictures posted here on the forum and are fairly safe unless people have an allergy to wheat or food coloring. While they don't smell or taste like the real thing, they do serve both purposes--look-alike for display and pretty safe to dispense.

TJ

[Elaine Kessinger]

One allergy that people are becoming aware of now is glueten (I don't think I spelt that correctly, but you know what I'm talking about) and that is exactly wheat. Could you, next time, get glueten-free flour from your organic foods store? Most folks would be very suprised about all the food items that have glueten in them, from pills to soda to gravies and sauces.
...And Mrs. Trent, thanks for looking out for us allergy prone people.

Hopefully helpful-
-Elaine

[Linda Trent]

One allergy that people are becoming aware of now is glueten

Yes, that was one of the allergies that I mentioned, Celiac Disease. The individual who came to SFS couldn't even use a skillet that had been used to cook anything that had gluten prepared in it. And you are correct, it is simply amazing the number of things that were on our watch list for this person. The list of banned foods was so great that the person was permitted to bring their own flour, and period food for the event.

It really is amazing to find out all the things that cause allergic reactions in people. One of my sisters had an allergy to the city water in our old hometown, and had to drink bottled water while visiting from college and after she got married. This was back in the early 1970s before we had all the home water purifiers today, she was also allergic to chocolate and could only have white chocolate at Easter time.

And Mrs. Trent, thanks for looking out for us allergy prone people

About two years ago there was a thread on one of the forums about ice cream, and someone wondered what oyster icecream would taste like, so Hank decided to try making it. I've never been allergic to shell fish before, but as soon as I tried just the tiniest of bites (I hate oysters anyway, so I didn't want a large spoonful) my mouth began to burn, my throat began to swell, my breathing was labored, and I got severe cramps and diarrhea. All classic signs of a shellfish allergy. This lasted for about two days, all because I tried the tiniest amount of oyster ice-cream.

I'm now one of the crusaders to alert people about food alergies before events (particularly ones I plan to attend). Organizers who plan to provide all the food for participants should be alert as to who has alergies and make certain that the people are aware of how it will be served. Some people, like the person with an allergy to dairy products just suffered with stomach complaints and said that sometimes he/she just eats stuff anyway, while the ones allergic to tomatoes and cucumbers (if I remember correctly) would have much more severe complications with one small bite.

I don't remember, when I was active with the medical aspect of the hobby, ever hearing anyone ask about allergies to stuff before they handed out the pills and such. Perhaps they did, but regardless, a heads up is never a bad thing.

Linda.

[TJ6]

Allergies are a big problem, and gluten is becoming more widely known to be an allergen. I've known maybe 2 people who were allergic and it was easier for them to list what they could eat than to list what they couldn't eat. What I like about using the flour dough pills is that they have a few simple ingredients and I know what they all are. I can quietly ask someone if they are allergic to wheat or gluten, any food coloring, etc. I worry that someone will be allergic to an ingredient in something that I don't know is there or that I've forgotten about. Peanut allergy, for instance. I work in the medical field in 2008 as well, and people with severe allergy to peanuts can't eat anything that has peanuts or peanut oil in it or on it, some cannot tolerate eating from a dish that has contained any peanut product, including shells, and this hidden ingredient lands many people in the hospital with severe reactions.

Another thought while we're thinking cautiously--none of our meds include alcohol. For those recipes that call for alcohol, I substitute vinegar, and our whiskey is usually coffee water (which people are warned of). One of our staff is an alcoholic (sober for 24 years but as he says, he will always be an alcoholic) and so we are very aware of the problem of giving an alcoholic a drink or a sniff of real alcohol. On the other hand, there are people who have never tasted alcohol and don't intend to. I don't use rubbing alcohol either because of the possibility that someone will pick it up and take a swig. (People are often really stupid, especially when they are showing off.)

I knew a lady, for awhile, anyway, who was a vegetarian by choice. For her, secret ingredients of animal products became a medical issue for her. After years of not consuming any meat, the slightest amount of animal products in a dish would cause nausea and vomiting. Even a little beef stock in a big pot of soup or some animal fat in a bread.

Whether it is a matter of allergies, addiction, or simple preference, we need to be careful what we hand out.

[hta1970]

On the other side of being careful, it should also be the responsibility of reenactors with food allergies to make this aware to the reenacting medical staff if they intend to take part in sick call or battlefield triage. If the reenactor with the allergy does this then he could simply be suffering from another illness which would not require a look-a-like medicine which might cause an allergic reaction and in the case of battlefield casualties the flesh would which would require medication could be re-categorized as a fatal wound not requiring treatment at all.

I know some people want to participate in everything, but to be safe, those with allergies also have to make a very important step of responsibility before the portrayal starts to avoid a difficult situation.

The same can and should be said for those with serious health conditions exerting themselves in extreme weather. Most "field hospitals" I think would enjoy those people coming in at sick call and spending part of the day during the battle as a patient representing the many soldiers suffering from disease and not battle wounds, rather than having the soldier suffer serious health risks from the severe heat and stress on the battlefield. Fatalities from such bravado of wanting to play soldier in severe heat are not unheard of and very unfortunate. (Play soldier and fire your gun when the weather is more suited to your health condition)

A simple act of responsibility of those with health issues would avoid many health issues like this and make for better all around authentic portrayals including medical.

[chatrbug]

Just wanted to point out... you dont have to be celiac to be allergic to gluten. I am very sensitive to gluten. I can eat it, but if you see me with some lovely red red cheeks.. you can pretty much be sure I have eaten it at some point, if I keep it eating it after my cheeks turn red, then I get sicker. Im lucky that I can handle some. those with celiac cant eat any, it destroys their intestines. Whereas those with an allergy dont have to worry about their intestines being destroyed.. just agitated!

[Linda Trent]

Just wanted to point out... you dont have to be celiac to be allergic to gluten.

Yes, I did not mean to imply that all gluten allergies were Celiac. I only meant that I had to deal with gluten allergies when I had a participant with Celiac disease.

Linda