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| Healing Unfortunately, Gorean medicine is not depicted in great detail in the novels. In some ways, it is more primitive than Earth medicine. But, in many other ways, Gorean medicine is far more advanced than Earth. Gor has created potent drugs and serums that Earth only dreams about. Disease prevention is an area where Gorean medicine far surpasses Earth medicine. Disease is almost unknown on Gor except for a very few horrible diseases such as Dar-kosis and the Bazi plague The zenith of Gorean medicine has to be the Stabilization Serums. This Serum is a life extending treatment. It was developed some five hundred years ago by the Physician's Castes of Koroba and Ar and transmitted to other Physicians at the Sardar Fairs. Aging was seen as a disease, not an inevitable fate. Centuries of research went into seeking a cure for aging. Unfortunately, this also meant that research into cures for other diseases was ignored. Many people, who were susceptible to those diseases, died during that time. As it was only the resistant that survived, this did tend to strengthen stock. Some diseases died out and others would be later cured once the Stabilization Serums were created. Dar-kosis is a virulent, wasting disease and is similar in many ways to leprosy. "Dar-kosis" means "Holy Disease" and it is also known as the "Sacred Affliction" though its name is rarely mentioned. Those inflicted with the disease are commonly known as Afflicted Ones. It is highly contagious and the afflicted must wear yellow robes as a mark of their illness. "Those who contract the disease are regarded by law as dead." (Assassin of Gor, p.266) This has important legal ramifications. A Free Companionship would be ended. Any will would take effect. The Afflicted lose everything. "The Afflicted are dead. The Afflicted are nameless." (Tarnsman of Gor, p.151) Bazi plague, also known as the pox, is a deadly, rapidly-spreading disease with no known cure. Its symptoms include pustules all over the body and a yellowing of the whites of the eyes. The pox is transmitted by lice. Some people are immune to it and for some it is only a temporary problem. Others die swiftly. Slaves that get the pox are usually killed. Goreans are rarely ill. Most of the injuries occur during raids, spars or battles. Poisoning occurs as well. If the antidote is not found quickly the person will die. Goreans heal quickly therefore the antidote for poisoning begins to take effect immediately. Injuries heal on Gor heal quickly. Bones can heal as fast as three days. Tendons in as fast as two days. Bruises in as little as one day. All stitches should be checked and cleaned daily and removed after three days. Slaves will be trained with basic healing arts. These will include being able to stabilize a patient until the Camp Healer is available. Including stopping bleeding and sutures. Sutures Stitches are placed one at a time. Each is tied off and cut before the next stitch is began. Make the stitches small and tight, but not too tight that the skin puckers. If the skin does pucker you will leave a raised scar and not a flat scar. Minor wound (a wound not deep enough that it will require stitches) 1) Cleanse the wound and area well using the medicate water and or saline solution. 2) Apply the salve to the wound. 3) If not deep or long leave open. If it is deep (but not deep enough for stitches) or long, then dress the wound. Deeper wounds 1) Control the bleeding. Apply direct pressure to the wound, with finger tips wrapped in a cloth or with the palm of your hand pressing a cloth into the wound. 2) Cleanse the wound and area well using the medicated water and or saline solution. 3) Apply salve to the area. 4) Stitch the wound. If it is very deep might need a few layers of stitching. 5) Apply salve once again over the stitches and around the wound. 6) Dress the wound with bandages. Wounds with items still imbedded in it (arrow tips, spears, blade tips and so forth) 1) Apply some pressure around the wound if bleeding freely. 2) Carefully assess the wound. Is the item in it flat or does it have various rigid spikes on it? If it is flat it can be removed straight. If it is not, the spike have to be cut away from the object so that it can be pulled free. If unable to do so the only other way is to push it through. You might have to cut the wound more open to see and carefully remove the object. 3) Cleanse the wound, checking carefully to make sure that there is no part of the item left in the wound. 4) Apply salve generously around the wound 5) Carefully stitch the wound. Once again it might require more than one layer of stitching. 6) Apply more salve to the stitches and area around the wound. 7) Dress the wound. Bandages Apply a fresh cloth over the wound... can apply more of the slave or balm to the cloth if wanting to. Carefully take the silk strips, snugly but not too tight wrap about and secure the bandage into place. Medicated water The medicated water is boiled water with a bit of salt and paga added to it. Not much paga will be needed but there should be enough that the water will become a disinfectant. Saline Solution Saline solution is an easy mixture of water and salt. It has been around for a long time and has proven it's worth. Salves and balms Each will have the base of lard. Various roots, herbs and bark can be mixed into this to help with healing. Honey can be mixed in with lard. Honey is a natural healer. In some of the salves for excessive pain tassa powder, capture scent or ground bark from various trees (willow has become popular for this... did not find it used in this manner but it does follow along with the herbalist ideas. Medicines and Herbs Analgesics - creams applied to the upper layers of the skin for numbing effects. Anti-Serum - given to those bit or clawed by a sleen to counteract the sleen poison. Local analgesics - administered via injection to numb a larger area General analgesics - also injected to put a patient to sleep Antiseptic powder - usually green in color and used to prevent infection by sprinkling over the wound or mixed in saline solution and used to flush/cleanse the wound. Bergament salve - used for itching and rashes Black pepper - used to stop bleeding but is very painful Brak Brush - a shrub whose leaves have a purgative effect when chewed: traditionally branches of it are nailed to the house doors during the Waiting Hand to discourage the entry of bad luck into the house of the New Year. "Assassin of Gor, page 211" Breeding wine - a sweet beverage which counteracts the effect of slave wine making a slave girl fertile: also called second wine. "Blood Brothers of Gor, page 319" Capture scent - an anesthetic widely employed to render its��s victims unconscious; a rag soaked with the scent and held over the mouth and nose or shot into the victim as an anesthetic dart. Marauders of Go, pages 115 & 116" Cayenne - the fruit of the plant is used as an anti-microbial and it can be used as a general tonic specifically for the circulatory system in the cases of serious infection to help promote blood flow. Chamomile - a flower that is dried and then brewed into a tea for stomach upset and pain Dried Sunflower seeds - used in a crushed form and smoked in a pipe to help clear the head and with colds. Echinacea - the flower and roots are used with other herbs as an anti-microbial. This herb will help combat both bacterial and viral infections. Emetics - powders mixed with water that have a purgative effect; used in cases of poisoning. Frobicain - a sedative injection used during Voyages of Acquisition to render a captured barbarian unconscious. "Assassin of Go, page 126" Garlic - can be used as an ant microbial, specifically supportive of the development of natural bacterial flora while killing pathogenic organisms. Healing salve - an antibiotic cream or ointment Hemp - used like Dopamine from earth to increase blood pressure. Honey - is applied to wounds to help and promote healing Kalana roots - when steeped in water are used to cleanse wounds Kanda - this is a small shrub that grows in the desert of Go. The leaves when chewed have a narcotic effect. The roots, however, are poisonous. Kur fat - is used to stop infections and a prime ingredient in healing salve. Lavenia - blossoms used in hot water to relieve headaches and discomfort. Matchweed - in an anti-coagulant Mudpacks - are placed on sprained ankle to help with swelling and pain Numbing salve - short blue grass and bosk fat. Peppermint - is used to fight off infection and help with nausea. Also made into a balm and rubbed into areas that are bruising to ease the pain and lowers the chance of discoloration. Slavewyne -is a beverage that is bitter and black, given to slaves for birth control. The effects are instantaneous. Siproot is the active ingredient. Sleeping Powder - is an amber fluid. Added to water and shaken. As it is shaken it turns to dark blue. Sip root - used in the creation of Slavewyne to prevent conception Stabilization serums - a series of medical injections which, among other things retards the aging process: an invention of the Priest Kings approved by them for use by humans, administered in four injections. Serum of the Priest Kings - A serum that seems to heal wounds immediately. ( Tarl Cabot and Vika a slave speaking of an ointment ) "The ointment will soon be absorbed," she said , "In a few minutes there will be no trace of it nor of the cuts." "The Physicians of Treve," I said, "have marvelous medicines" "It is an ointment of Priest Kings," she said." (Priest Kings of Go pg. 64) Tassa powder - is a reddish powder mixed with kalana to render the patient unconscious. "Fighting Slave of Go, pages 222-223" Teslik - a plant whose extract is the active ingredient in breeding wine. White Sage - is used to help fight off infections. Willow - a tree whose parts are used for pain relief. The bark is chewed, the leaves and buds are brewed as a tea. Yellow powder - concentrated brak brush. Used as a laxative, causes diarrhea. Zingier - is used for nausea. Med Kits Clean cloths Bandages Scissors Pre-threaded hooked needled (the kits will have both silk and gut threaded needles) Various salves and balms Tweezers Pliers Metal cutters Bandages Strips of rence cloth Tape Silk strips Medicated water Saline solution Skin bags (for heat and cold compresses) ~smiles~ you will now do a med serve with a Free.. the Free will have a minor injury and you will treat them as needed.. if you feel you need help before your test.. make sure you find a trainer to work with.. this med serve will be copied and posted in your training folder on the message board.. fate will check it to make sure you have passed.. |
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