Author Question: When Were Casts Invented?

Ann asks: I have a question about treatment of a leg fracture in the late 1860's. My character has broken his tibia (? --the bone at the front of the calf). It's not a compound break. Can you tell me if it would have been splinted or casted at that time, and how long before a determined person with such a break could walk using crutches? How long do such breaks take to heal?Jordyn says:Here is a great source that talks about the invention of...

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Is Home Canning Safe?

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Up and Coming

It. Is. Getting. SO. Close.Poison is about to release!!Have you pre-ordered yet? It's super-cheap on Amazon right now. Less than $9.00. But enough about me...What is there for you?This week I'm focusing on some historical medical aspects. Hopefully, even if you're not an historical author, you'll find this information valuable and helpful.Monday: Author Melissa K. Norris stops by to discuss medical safety and canning and is also offering a chance...

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Burn Injuries

One thing that has changed recently is how medical professionals talk about burns or burn terminology.Burns used to be classified as follows:First Degree: Skin is pink, but no fluid-filled blisters.Second Degree: Skin had fluid-filled blisters of varying sizes.Third Degree: Multiple layers of the skin are involved. There may be charring of the wound. The picture would denote, at the very least, a third degree burn.Fourth Degree: Charring and burning...

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Author Question: Australian DJs and HIPAA

Remember the nurse who committed suicide in the wake of the Australian radio DJ's that posed as the Queen of England to get the medical staff to disclose private details of the Duchess?I totally get, as a nurse, why she made that choice. Every day, nurses face critical choices that can have dire consequences. Most often, I can say from being in this field for almost 20 years, that 99% of the time, medical people DO NOT have ill intentions toward...

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Perspecitve...

I loved this short, sweet post by Dan Greene where he shares his thoughts on a cancer diagnosis. I love hearing what people have learned in a moment of crisis. Dan has offerred to let me share this blog piece here at Redwood's. You can find Dan at his blog a Writer's Room.Welcome, Dan. ...

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Up and Coming

Hello Redwood's Fans!How has your week been?What did you think of Lance Armstrong's confession? I found it to be medically very interesting how he had HUNDREDS of tests for illegal substances and was always found to be clean. I was one of those that believed in his innocence until his confession. I just couldn't figure out how not once he never tested positive.One thing I have found interesting is that he refers to his cancer as "the disease". That...

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Author Question: Police Response 2/2

We're continuing with Amy's question about police response.In short, police are responding to a presumed intruder though the intruder thinks he's rented the place! The genre is romantic comedy. You can read the first post here. 4. Firearms drawn?If they are carrying long guns, then obviously the weapons are out and ready to be used. It would be typical to have their side arms drawn in this situation. It’s justified for two reasons. The first...

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Author Question: Police Response 1/2

Amy asks:I'm writing a contemporary RomCom novel, and my opening scene involves the Colorado Springs Police Department. It starts as a sort of comedy of errors when my heroine returns from an extensive trip to find someone else has accidentally moved into her half of the duplex she rents. The man she finds there thinks she's breaking in and calls the police. What he doesn't know, however, is that my heroine is the daughter of a former police officer...

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Author Question: Hallucinogenic Drugs

Kristin Asks:I am an aspiring young writer who is currently working on a futuristic dystopian novel set during a second Holocaust. The villain is conducting massive Dr. Mengele-like experiments on thousands of people. My question is, is there a known prescription drug that you've run across that, once injected into the human bloodstream, could cause disturbing auditory and visual hallucinations and/or nightmares?Jordyn Says:Put simply, a hallucination...

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Up and Coming

Hello, Redwood's Fans!The release of Poison is rapidly approaching. To help celebrate, over the next several weeks, I'll be posting the first five chapters. You can find the first chapter here. Enjoy!For you this week I'm highlighting author questions. These are some of my favorite posts to do.Monday: Hallucinogenic DrugsWednesday and Friday: I'm highlighting my brother's police prowess as he tackles a long list of author questions. Even though they...

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Proof of Heaven: Dr. Eben Alexander 3/3

Today, I'm concluding a three-part series on the non-fiction book, Proof of Heaven, written by Dr. Eben Alexander as he discusses his Near Death Experience (NDE) after he contracted a rare, often deadly form of E-coli meningitis. Here are Part I and Part II.Toward the end of the book, Dr. Alexander lists the current medical theories offered as explanations for NDE's and why he now completely discounts them and now has a firm belief that there is...

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