HIV and ID Observations

Sometimes we clinicians, researchers, teachers, and medical administrators need a break from our grueling work schedules and responsibilities.

With that in mind, I offer a second installment of Fun With Old Medical Images! — which I’ve cleverly entitled, More Fun With Old Medical Images!

With an up-front thanks to the National Library of Medicine — who are truly putting our taxpayer dollars to good work — let’s get started.

Here’s Numero Uno:

Before her annual Thanksgiving swim in the Atlantic, Kristin always donned her confusing protective wetsuit.

Confusing is right! If you want to be even more befuddled, here’s what the owner’s manual says:

The health guide: aiming at a higher science of life and the life-forces, giving nature’s simple and beautiful laws of cure, the science of magnetic manipulation, bathing, electricity, food, sleep, exercise, marriage, and the treatment for one hundred diseases: thus, constituting a home doctor far superior to drugs.

Never mind the manual, let’s go swimming! But don’t you think long sleeves would be warmer? Brrrr.

Speaking of bare arms, on we go to #2:

The draconian new infection control policy went way beyond “bare below the elbows.”

White coats may spread germs! So do neckties and jacket sleeves! Arrghhh, bugs are everywhere!

The only solution — wear nothing, as this handsome fellow is doing.

And no, I have no idea whether he’s wearing trousers.

Here’s #3 for consideration:

The doctor always trusted Herbert, his Diagnosis Monkey, to review patient charts when planning his day at the office.

Confession: I’m not sure what a “Diagnosis Monkey” is either.

But if monkeys can type Shakespeare, maybe they can make medical diagnoses too. And imagine if you had one! What fun!

Can Herbert also work with modern EMRs? What about EHRs? What’s the difference anyway?

And not only is Herbert a crack diagnostician, he’s also great at selecting ICD-10 codes. Today’s best:  W61.62XD: Struck by duck, subsequent encounter.

Which reminds me — make sure you always schedule a follow-up after a duck assault. That initial encounter never quite captures the whole essence of the duck-striking.

Here’s #4:

Form, function, fashion, and fun — Ray-Ban’s latest styles are sure to entice beachgoers everywhere.

Get it? They’re sunglasses! Imagine how popular you’ll be at the pool wearing these sleek specs.

It was tempting to go topical with a solar eclipse reference on this one, but the next eclipse won’t occur in the USA until April 8, 2024.

And if there’s one thing we stress on this highly educational NEJM Journal Watch site, it’s clinical relevance. We want to be useful.

Finally — and aren’t you sad we’re nearly done? — here’s #5:

Janet’s countenance before (right) and after (left) her morning cup of coffee.

As if we needed additional proof of the health benefits of coffee, there’s a profound transformation for you.

And I suggest that Janet choose her profile photo for OKCupid after that morning cup of Joe.

That’s all this time, folks. We’ll be back next episode with more highly valuable medical knowledge.

Meanwhile, can’t the police do anything about this scofflaw?