The hottest Medical Substack posts right now

Key to managing COVID-19 includes wearing masks, being outside when possible, distancing socially, prioritizing handwashing, taking personal responsibility, seeking accurate information, and consulting with doctors.
Super spreaders are individuals who unknowingly transmit the virus to many others, often in dense indoor settings like parties, networking events, and religious gatherings.
While reopening is crucial for mental health, it's important to continue following preventive measures like the MOSH PIT guidelines to reduce the risks until a vaccine is available.

Hopeful updates: Vaccine progress from Oxford University, potential emergency use of Remdesivir, and 'canine surveillance' for virus detection.
Interesting medical developments: Rashes as COVID-19 symptoms, varying illness severity in different weeks, and the virus's impact on organ systems like the vascular system.
Advice for coping: Maintain hope, journal thoughts, stay connected, try new activities, and keep dreaming big for the future.

Staying positive is important during challenging times like a pandemic
Maintaining high energy and spirits can help in coping with stressful situations
Calm vigilance is necessary to address both COVID and non-COVID medical needs effectively

Businessman Arthur Lewis Pointing profited from deceit by selling fake products like 'A. D. Invisible Elevators' that falsely claimed to increase height.
Pointing's 'Antidipso' product preyed on the families of alcoholics, offering false hope and claiming to cure alcoholism with covert powders for the drinker's coffee.
The scandalous nature of Antidipso, revealed through deceptive marketing and ineffective ingredients, eventually led to Pointing's downfall, highlighting the unethical nature of profiting from deceit.

A former medical student attempted to fake his own death certificate in 1901 to start fresh and deceive his family
The fake corpse he created was discovered by the doctor, leading to his arrest and later conviction for obtaining the death certificate under false pretenses
The man had a history of deception, had previous run-ins with the law, and eventually died under mysterious circumstances many years later

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A woman named Miss Perry in 1860s New York presented a unique medical condition where she appeared to excrete waste through her skin, even coughing up substances resembling charcoal.
Dr. Sayre suspected deception in Miss Perry's case and found evidence of a hoax involving fake coatings and stories of charcoal extraction from her body.
Miss Perry's case raises questions about her motivations, whether seeking compassion, wielding power, avoiding reality, or dealing with psychological distress through fabricated symptoms.

When taking an exam, it's important to maintain composure and not resort to violence, as it can lead to serious consequences like legal trouble and imprisonment.
Qualifying exams in the 1830s for medical professionals were rigorous, covering subjects like chemistry, materia medica, and botany.
Even with family wealth and additional qualifications, losing one's temper during a crucial moment can have long-lasting effects, including bankruptcy and a tarnished reputation.

In the 1890s, hospitals in London made efforts to bring Christmas cheer to patients with gifts, carol singing, festive decorations, and special meals.
Hospital staff, including medical students, actively participated in the celebrations, dressing up, performing shows, and organizing activities to lift spirits.
Charitable donations from local communities funded the Christmas celebrations in hospitals, highlighting the importance of bringing comfort and joy to those in need during the festive season.