STERILITY photos on Flickr

Volunteer review Joshua Manning in Honduras La Ceiba PreMed Program at local hospital by A Broader View Volunteers Corp

Volunteer review Joshua Manning in Honduras La Ceiba PreMed Program at local hospital

1.-How was the local ABV Coordinator and the support provided in-country?

Our ABV coordinator, was a trooper. He dealt with our constant nonsense, our heartless mangling of his language, and our odd hours with no complaints. Without him our efforts would have collapsed into a haphazard mess. John Nurse, our contact at the clinic and hospital, was a stronger character. The nurses and doctors almost universally enjoy helping us gringos, and the ABV office keeps a presence with occasional emails. I always felt as if there was a safety net.

2- What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

At the program: Don’t expect the same standard of sterility and urgency which is commonplace in the States. As frustrating as it will likely become, the laid back central american nature encapsulated by the word ‘siesta’ permeates into even the emergency rooms. At the same time, their ‘sterile field’ is usually nothing more than the paper they took their gloves out of.

At the accommodation: I did not stay with the coordinator, and I was surprised to find that my host family was changing their daily lives to accommodate our program schedule, to an extent. Señora Argentina was wonderful, and the food at the house was great. Bear in mind that if you live with a different family, they need to be kept in the loop. Don’t stroll up at 9pm for dinner when they eat at 5:30 unless you told them beforehand, follow the local time for meals.

About the country: La Ceiba doesn’t reflect the reputation Honduras has garnered in recent years. Expect relative poverty, expect a language barrier if your Spanish is no bueno, but don’t expect to fear for your life. Don’t be too stupid, don’t wander the streets at midnight, don’t challenge people on the streets, and you’ll be A-OK.

3- What was most difficult to experience?

At the program: Pain is a constant presence in Honduran medicine. I understand that it exists everywhere, and sometimes medicine requires it. However, I feel for our patients here. It broke my heart nearly every morning to see an old woman cry in the clinic while simply having an ulcer on her foot cleaned. It’s necessary here, but was almost alien to me.

At the accommodation: Our showers are cold, and my water shut off at 10. It’s a petty complaint, don’t let it deter you. The trip is well worth it.

The country: Honduras is beautiful, often in a mind-bending sort of way. The most difficult, and fun, experience here was navigating the city while still coming to terms with Spanish.

4- Any tips for future volunteers…

Clothing: Definitely a must. There are options for washing clothes, but they will cost you money, so prepare for a small expense, something in the realm of $5-10. Pack for a week, wash your clothes on the weekends. Also, watching surgeries requires changing into a clean pair of scrubs, so always have one with you. At least 10 or a week.

Donations: Everything on the emailed list is important. They need medicine like ibuprofen, desperately need antibiotic creams and medicines, and treat medical tools and supplies like gold. For things like sterile gloves, BP cuffs, Pulse Oxes, and tape, I would suggest keeping it in case you need it and donating it at the end. Also, anything you leave out or set on a table and lose sight of will likely become a donation as well.

Weather: It’s so hot here. The only time I don’t feel like I am or might start sweating is when I’m in the shower. Don’t worry about it though, it builds character.

4.1-Other things volunteers should know:

a.- If you speak high school Spanish, and you’re comfortable looking like a bit of an idiot sometimes, just go for it. If you don’t speak any, be clear on wanting the translator, else you’ll be relying on your new volunteer friends a lot if they know spanish.

b.- Decide beforehand what you’ll be comfortable doing. The possibilities are nearly limitless. You won’t be performing an appendectomy, but you’ll be able to learn procedures here that would be more off-limits back home. Also, definitely have sterile gloves, along with normal gloves, if you can find them.

c.- Figure out spending money beforehand as well. The exchange rate is L22 lempiras to a dollar, taxi rides to the volunteer sites are L25 limps, you’ll be taking between two and four on a normal day, if the coordinator can he will give transportation (its not included) so be flexible, and weekend excursions could be as little as US$50 or as much as US$250, depending on what you want to do and spend.

d.- Be vocal. Learn the word for ‘can’ (poder) and ‘try’ (tratar), and use them. ‘I want to learn’ (Quiero aprender) is a great sentence to have and use. If you ask, they’ll usually let you, and if you don’t know how, they almost invariably will show you.

5- Personal Paragraph (ABV Program Testimonial), don’t leave blank:

A Broader View offers an extremely fascinating and largely unique opportunity with this type of trip. I figured out early on that as a pre-med student, my donations were invaluable, and my help was tolerated, though tolerated happily as near as I could tell. In the clinic, we took blood pressure, cleaned wounds, and removed stitches. At the hospital, we were able to watch some surgeries and live births. In the emergency room, we set casts, helped with suturing, and witnessed real life for a group of impoverished people. Sometimes, tragically, people didn’t make it. This trip was real, and most certainly not a vacation. On top of everything else, one of the most valuable things I gained was perspective.

6- How would you describe your accommodation, meals and security:

The accommodations were better than I honestly expected, despite the lack of AC. My fan was usually perfectly fine. I never really felt unsafe, and didn’t take any undue risks. The meals were mostly tremendous, with a couple of exceptions involving white bread, beans and rice. I was never hungry, frequently tired, and always hot. I’m also strongly considering coming back.

7- What was your favorite memory of this trip?

Program: Picking out a single memory is difficult. My first really good memory with the program helping with casts in my first couple of days. I got along well with the doctor, I could understand a lot of what he told me, we got a good picture with the girl, and she asked us to sign her cast. The medical interns here are used to crazy volunteers making a near-spectacle in the ER, and it’s cool so long as there isn’t an emergency at the time.

Country: I only had one weekend excursion, and it was amazing. Utila is a beautiful island similar to Roatan, but infinitely cheaper. I went with some new friends I met here, we visited bars and the beach, went shopping, and played cards incessantly. I wish I could’ve had more weekends like it, but I’m thankful for the one I had.

8.- How was the ABV USA support prior traveling?

Communication (Phone/emails/Online chat): While I was setting up my trip here, I relied heavily on phone calls to the office with random questions. Their hours are somewhat short, and you may not always have someone pick up on the first ring, but they always get back. Email communication is more frequent and consistent. Read the emails thoroughly, there could always be important information in them. They also sent me a ‘Happy Birthday’ email, which was pretty nice.

Website Information: From what I recall, the website info is generally correct, but almost slightly misleading. A lot of things done here are free form. If you pay for classes, but would rather go to the hospital one afternoon, you certainly can. Just make sure your teacher finds out. If you don’t want to go to the clinic that morning, or you want to work a night shift in the ER, it can usually be worked out. Be ready and willing to change tracks quickly.

9 – Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?

Sure, we can be pen pals. Emails would probably be your best bet. I’m more than happy to answer questions.

10 – Can you tell us how did you find or know about A Broader View?

A group of my friends found the trip, we planned it together, and then they decided to go later. As a result, I’m here by myself, and I couldn’t be happier with the way things worked out. However you found this trip, don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone.

www.abroaderview.org

#volunteerabroad #honduras #laceiba #premed #abroaderview

This image is taken from United States Naval Medical Bulletin Vol. 14, Nos. 1-4, 1920 by Medical Heritage Library, Inc.

Go to the Book with image in the Internet Archive

Title: United States Naval Medical Bulletin Vol. 14, Nos. 1-4, 1920

Creator: U.S. Navy. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

Publisher:

Sponsor:

Contributor:

Date: 1920

Language: eng

Table of Contents

Number 1

PREFACE V

NOTICE TO SERVICE CONTRIBUTORS VI

SPECIAL ARTICLES:

ANTHROPOMETRIC STUDY AT ANNAPOLIS.

By Lieutenant L. B. Solhaug, Medical Corps, U. S. N 1

Medical and Hygienic Aspects of Submarine Service.

By Lieutenant Commander E. W. Brown, Medical Corps, U. S. N 8

Report on Facial and Jaw Injuries.

By Lieutenant Commander L. W. Johnson, Medical Corps, U. S. N 17

Military Orthopedic Hospitals in the British Isles.

By Lieutenant R. Hammond. Medical Corps, U. S. N. R. F. 65

HISTORICAL :

Medicine in Rome 103

EDITORIAL :

The New Year — Standards of Duty 127

IN MEMORIAM :

Edward Grahame Parker.

By Captain C. E. Riggs, Medical Corps, U. S. N 135

SUGGESTED DEVICES:

Changes in Scuttle Butts Aboard Ship.

By Lieutenant Commander J. A. B. Sinclair, Medical Corps,

U. S. N. R. F 137

An Emergency Evacuation Device 145

CLINICAL NOTES :

Bronchopulmonary Spirochetosis in an American.

By Lieutenant G. W. Lewis, Medical Corps, U. S. N 149

Encephalitis Lethargica.

By Lieutenant A. F. Kuhlman, Medical Corps, U. S. N 151

Defense of the Open-Air Treatment of Pneumonia.

By Lieutenant D. Ferguson, jr., Medical Corps, U. S. N 153

NOTES AND COMMENTS :

Carbon tetrachloride poisoning. —Civil service positions. — Serum treatment

in yellow fever. —" Deer-fly disease." — Request for specimens.—

Medical personnel of the French Navy.—Centenary celebrations. —Situs inversus.

—Italian view of prohibition. — Effects of prohibition In Chicago. — Treatment

of sterility. — Pilocarpine in influenza. —A death from anesthesia.- — Free

hospital service in Oklahoma City. —Birth rate of Manila. —Expansion of the

Faculty of Medicine, Paris. —Statistics on blindness. —French eight-hour law. —

Corporation philanthropy 155

REPORTS :

The Receiving Ship Barracks, New York.

By Commander W. G. Farwell and Lieutenant R. M. Krepps, Medical Corps,

U. S. N 163

Grounding of the U. S. S. Northern Pacific.

By Lieutenant J. C. Ruddock, Medical Corps, U. S. N 185

Impressions of a Reservist.

By Commander L. R. G. Crandon, Medical Corps, U. S. N. R. F 188

Number 2

PREFACE v

NOTICE TO SERVICE CONTRIBUTORS vi

SPECIAL ARTICLES:

Types of Neurological and Psychiatric Cases.

By Lieutenant Commander E. C Taylor, Medical Corps, U. S. N. R. F 191

Yellow Fever.

By Lieutenant Commander T. Wilson, Medical Corps, U. S. N 200

Asepsis of Abdominal Incisions.

By Lieutenant Commander F. H. Bowman, Medical Corps, U. S. N 208

Calcium Chloride Intravenously for Hemoptysis.

By Lieutenant Commander W. H. Fickel, Medical Corps, U. S. N 210

Hospital Records 213

HISTORICAL:

The Arabians and the First Revival of Learning 225

SUGGESTED DEVICES:

Hospital Garbage Disposal.

By Captain A. Farenholt, Medical Corps, U. S. N 237

The Flat-Foot Ladder 240

CLINICAL NOTES:

Chondrodysplasia with Exostoses.

By Lieutenant R. W. Hutchinson, Medical Corps, U. S. N 243

A Case of Vascular Syphilis.

By Lieutenant A. E. Kuhlmann, Medical Corps, U. S. N., and Lieutenant

Commander C. C. Ammerman, Medical Corps, U.S.N.R. F 245

Two Cases of Encephalitis Lethargica.

By Lieutenant Commander R. I. Longabaugh, Medical Corps, U. S. N 249

A Case of Foreign Body in the Head.

By Lieutenant Commander L. M. Schimdt, Medical Corps, U. S. N. 254

The Late Treatment of War Osteomyelitis.

By Lieutenant E. I. Salisbury, Medical Corps, U. S. N. R. F 255

Two Cases of Gas Gangrene.

By Lieutenant Commander L. M. Schmidt, Medical Corps. U. S. N 257

Gastric Ulcer with Perforation.

By Lieutenant G. G. Holladay, Medical Corps, U. S. N. R. F 259

Internal Ophthalmoplegia.

By Lieutenant Commander E. E. Woodland, Medical Corps, U.S.N 260

Open Treatment of a Fractured Metacarpal Bone.

By Lieutenant R. W. Auerbach, Medical Corps, U. S. N 263

Supernumerary Phalanx.

By Lieutenant R. S. Reeves, Medical Corps, U. S. N. R. F 265

A Cask of Ruptured Kidney.

By Commander K. It. Richardson, Medical Corps, U. S. N

Mustard Gas and the Cardiovascular System.

Ry Lieutenant Commander W. H. Michael, Medical Corps, U. S. N

A Case of Ulcer of the Sigmoid Flexure.

By Lieutenant H. R. Coleman, Medical Corps, U. S. N

A Case of Malposition.

By Lieutenant A. C. Toll inner, Dental Corps, U. S. N

PROGRESS IN MEDICAL SCIENCES :

General Medicine — Blood pressure and posture —Intramuscular Injections

of quinine in malaria — Vincent's disease Surgery — Appendicitis amongst

sailors— Transplanting of bone— Rectal ether anesthesia

Hygiene and Sanitation — Destruction of lice by steam

Eye, Ear. Nose, and Throat — Ocular phenomena in the psychoneuroses of

warfare —Ocular complications due to typhoid inoculations

NOTES AND COMMENTS:

Syphilis and the war—Bone surgery —National Research Council— Laboratories

in Poland— National Anaesthesia Research Society — Vanderbilt Medical School —

Municipal education in Detroit — Female medical matriculates— Degrees conferred

by Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh — Speech defects — Typhoid fever in

New York — Venereal diseases in California- — Omissions in the Annual Report of

the Surgeon General, 1919

REPORTS :

U. S. Navy Ambulance Boat No. 1.

By Chief Pharmacist's Mate D. V. De Witt, U. S. N

Physical Development in the Navy.

By Lieutenant B. G. Baker, Medical Corps, U. S. N

Venereal Prophylaxis at Great Lakes, III.

By Lieutenants D. It. Blender and L. A. Burrows, Medical Corps, U. S.

N. R. F

Report of 505 Tonsillectomies.

By Lieutenant W. P. Vail, Medical Corps, U. S. N. R. F

BOOK NOTICES

Number 3

PREFACE v

NOTICE TO SERVICE CONTRIBUTORS vi

SPECIAL ARTICLES :

History of the U. S. Naval Hospital, Chelsea, Mass.

By Captain N. J. Blackwood, Medical Corps, U. S. N 311

INSTRUCTION FOR THE HOSPITAL CORPS.

By Lieutenant Commander W. M. Kerr, Medical Corps, U. S. N. 338

Study of Two Cases of Diabetes Mellitus.

By Lieutenant L. F. Craver, Medical Corps, TJ. S. N 345

Flat Foot in the Navy.

By Lieutenant C. F. Painter, Medical Corps, U. S. N. R. F 359

Static Defects of the Lower Extremities.

By Lieutenant A. A. Marsteller, Medical Corps, U. S. N 365

Treatment of Malaria.

By Lieutenant Commander W. H. Michael, Medical Corps, U. S. N 367

Navy Recruiting.

By Lieutenant W. H. Cechla, Medical Corps, U. S. N 371

HISTORICAL:

American Founders of Gynecology 373

EDITORIAL :

"Bring Forth Your Dead "—Is Educational Prophylaxis Effective

381

William Martin —John Wolton Ross —Oliver Dwight Norton, Jr 389

CLINICAL NOTES:

Interdental Ligation for Jaw Fractures.

By Lieutenant W. F. Murdy, Dental Corps, U. S. N 391

A Temporary Stopping.

By Lieutenant Commander H. E. Harvey, Dental Corps, U. S. N 394

ASCARIASIS AND APPENDICITIS.

By Lieutenant Commander E. G. Hakansson, Medical Corps, U. S. N 394

Malarial Crescents.

By Lieutenant Commander W. H. Michael, Medical Corps, U. S. N_ 395

Poisoning by Jelly Fish.

By Commander A. H. Allen, Medical Corps, U. S. N 396

Traumatic Rupture of Kidney.

By Lieutenant Commander F. H. Bowman, Medical Corps, U. S. N 397

A Case of Erythema Multiforme.

By Lieutenant M. F. Czubak, Medical Corps, U. S. N 399

PROGRESS IN MEDICAL SCIENCES:

General Medicine. — Static back trouble—Benzyl benzoate —Relation of

anaphylaxis to asthma and eczema —High enema —Treatment of typhus —Thilerium

hominis 401

Mental and Nervous Diseases. —Insanity as a defense in crime —The nervousness

of the Jew— The Babinski reflex —Problems of delinquency —Encephalomyelitis in

Australia 408

Surgery. — Radium — Surgery of peripheral nerves — Referred symptoms in

diseases of gall-bladder and appendix—Intracranial pressure —Protection of the

skin in surgical operations—Anesthesia

from drugs administered by the mouth —A new skin-suture material —

Roentgen-ray problems , 414

Hygiene and Sanitation. — Birth control—Typhoid fever in vaccinated

troops —Detection of typhoid carriers —Streptococci in market milk

—Tuberculosis in San Francisco —An experiment in sanitary education —Oral

hygiene —Differential diagnosis between trachoma and follicular conjunctivitis

—Left - handedness —The Negritos of the Philippine Islands —Tropical Australia

425

NOTES AND COMMENTS :

American Society for the Control of Cancer — Pay of Italian medical officers

— The passing of the book worm— The neurotic girl —Control of druggists in

Michigan — English statistics on alcoholism —Prevention of simple goiter— Value

of quarantine against influenza in Australia —W. P. C. Barton, first chief of

the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery—Information on blood-pressure estimation

—Automobile accidents —Egyptian Medical School — Educational movement In U. S.

Army 443

REPORTS :

Health Conditions in Santo Domingo.

By Lieutenant Commander G. F. Cottle, Medical Corps, U. S. N 453

History of U. S. S. Pocahontas During the War,

By Lieutenant Commander M. Boland, Medical Corps, U. S. N 460

With the American Peace Commission.

By Commander A. D. McLean, Medical Corps, U. S. N 500

Testing Water for Storage Batteries.

502

Report from Naval Medical School Laboratory 505

BOOK NOTICES 505

Number 4

PREFACE V

NOTICE TO SERVICE CONTRIBUTORS VI

SURGICAL ACTIVITIES AT THE NAVAL

HOSPITAL, NEW YORK.

Interesting bone cases 512

Fractubes of the anterior tuberosity of the tibia and Osgood-Schlatter's

disease 516

Carrel-Dakin technique for empyema 527

Physical therapy 535

Occupational therapy 536

War wounds of the joints.

By Dr. L. Delrez, Faculty of Medicine Liege 537

A case or joint treatment by Willems's method 545

Chronic intestinal stasis 545

Carrel-Dakin technique in treatment of carbuncle 549

A case of sarcoma of the foot 550

A case of Jacksonian epilepsy with spastic contracture 551

A Case Of Osteoma Of The Humerus 552

A Case Of Bone Infection Resembling Sarcoma 552

Wound closures after Carrel-Dakin treatment 553

Ether in peritonitis 557

HISTORICAL:

The founders ok naval hygiene. Lind, Trotter, and Blane 563

EDITORIAL:

Hospital standards —As seen from within 629

SUGGESTED DEVICES :

Vision test apparatus.

By Lieutenant Commander H. W. Glltner, Medical Corps, U. S.N. R. F 637

Treatment of cement floors.

By Captain A. Farenholt, Medical Corps, U. S. N 638

CLINICAL NOTES:

Ophthalmitis in secondary syphilis.

By Lieutenant Commander W. H. Whitmore, Medical Corps, U. S. N 639

TWO CASES OF OPTIC ATROPHY.

By Lieutenant Commander C. B. Camerer, and Lieutenant G. L. McClintock,

Medical Corps, U. S. N 641

Arsphenamine in malaria.

By Lieutenant Commander W. H. Michael, Medical Corps, U. S. N 643

Ureteral calculus.

By Commander W. J. Zalesky and Lieutenant Commander P. F. Prioleau,

Medical Corps, U. S. N 644

PROGRESS IN MEDICAL SCIENCES :

General medicine. — Treatment of respiratory catarrhs.—Tests of thyroid

hypersensitiveness. —A diet sheet for nephritics.— Delayed arsenical poisoning

647

Surgery. —Open treatment of fractures. — Treatment of crushed extremities.

—Nerve injuries of the war 653

Hygiene and sanitation. —Disinfection of tubercular sputum. — Syphilis

in railroad employees 659

Tropical diseases. —Ulcerating granuloma 663

Eye, ear, .nose, and throat. — Frontal sinus drainage. —Anesthetics in throat

surgery. —Correction of nasal deformities

NOTES AND COMMENTS :

American Library Association.— Mental defects in the United States. —

"Tea-taster's " cough. — Scientific basis of carelessness. — "The

case against the prophylactic packet." —Treatment of leprosy. — Medical

training in London. —A new Army and Navy Club. — The Navy Mutual Aid

Association. — Medical school of the University of Virginia. —A new medical

quarterly. —Solar therapy. — Novarsenobenzol subcutaneously. —Economic loss

from rats. —The flight of mosquitoes. —A medical centenarian. — A French hospital

ship. — Potassium-mercuric-iodide.— Dermatitis in industrial work. —

Radium.— A twelfth century epitaph 663

REPORTS :

Arsenical preparations used intravenously.

By Captain E. S. Bogert, Medical Corps, U. S. N 679

Venereal disease in the Dominican Republic.

By Lieutenant J. W. Vann and Lieutenant B. Groesbeck, Medical Corps, U.

S. N 681

American legation guard, Managua, Nicaragua.

By Lieutenant Commander F. F. Murdock, Medical Corps, U. S. N_ 684

Sanitary conditions in Vladivostok.

By Lieutenant A S. Judy, Medical Corps, U. S. N 689

Hospital records.

Commander H. W. Smith, Medical Corps, U. S. N 698

HOSPITAL RECORDS.

By Commander E. U. Reed, Medical Corps, U. S. N 706

A DEATH FROM ETHER DUE TO STATUS LYMPHATICUS.

By Captain A. W. Dunbar, Medical Corps, U. S. N 714

Medical prophylaxis against venereal diseases.

By Lieutenant P. W. Dreifus, Medical Corps, U. S. N 715

BOOK NOTICES 718

INDEX 721

If you have questions concerning reproductions, please contact the Contributing Library.

Note: The colors, contrast and appearance of these illustrations are unlikely to be true to life. They are derived from scanned images that have been enhanced for machine interpretation and have been altered from their originals.

Read/Download from the Internet Archive

See all images from this book

See all MHL images published in the same year