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   Jeff Jarvis (jeffjarvis@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 03-Nov-2024 20:40:32 JST Jeff Jarvis

   They return to the insanities of the 1950s. Next RFJ Jr will require doctors to use leeches.
   Trump will push to get fluoride out of drinking water, RFK Jr. says https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/03/rfk-jr-trump-fluoride-water/

   • Embed this notice
     Charlie Stross (cstross@wandering.shop)'s status on Sunday, 03-Nov-2024 20:41:09 JST Charlie Stross

     in reply to

     • Noel Kelly

     @jeffjarvis @gnoll110 Medical leeches are in fact still a Thing in surgical wound care—they're very good at debriding ulcerated tissue (they'll eat dead tissue but leave healthy tissue alone)!

     Maybe RFK will bring back cupping and bleeding to rebalance the humours instead?

   • Embed this notice
     Charlie Stross (cstross@wandering.shop)'s status on Sunday, 03-Nov-2024 20:57:54 JST Charlie Stross

     in reply to

     • Noel Kelly
     • Prof. Catherine Flick

     @CatherineFlick @jeffjarvis @gnoll110 You're right: I haven't had enough morning caffeine yet!

     (Leeches are just a good source of anticoagulants. Sometimes used in dermatology surgery IIRC to prevent delicate skin grafts from scarring.)

   • Embed this notice
     Prof. Catherine Flick (catherineflick@mastodon.me.uk)'s status on Sunday, 03-Nov-2024 20:57:55 JST Prof. Catherine Flick

     in reply to

     • Charlie Stross
     • Noel Kelly

     @cstross @jeffjarvis @gnoll110 I thought that was maggots 😅 don’t leeches just draw blood?

   • Embed this notice
     Cavyherd (cavyherd@wandering.shop)'s status on Sunday, 03-Nov-2024 22:29:49 JST Cavyherd

     in reply to

     • Charlie Stross
     • Noel Kelly
     • Prof. Catherine Flick

     @cstross @CatherineFlick @jeffjarvis @gnoll110

     Leeches are good where blood flow, I think esp venous return is compromised, like with reattached limbs & fingers & whatnot. Yes, one can get medical grade leeches! (Very expensive, I imagine.)