ADDENDA


Object obscura: Skull saw


PHOTOGRAPH: SCIENCE & SOCIETY


THIS skull saw dates from the early 20th century and would have been used in preparation for brain surgery. A crank handle moves the blade.


Crossword 1


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From the archives: A sharp exit


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TODAY we refer to some clinical errors as “never events” – though sadly not because they never happen. In 1935 such errors were no less inexcusable. An article from the Guardian newspaper in December of that year reports on a dentist in Congleton, Cheshire, who removed three teeth from a patient without her consent.


Mrs M Harrison attended the dentist to have a 21 22 23 24 ACROSS


1. Famous medical whistleblower (9)


4. Gives guidance on prescribing of medication (abbr.) (3)


5. Peptide hormone (7)


8. Now known as Diabetes mellitus type 1 (abbr.) (4)


10. Adverse reaction to gluten (8) 11. Vertebral column (5)


12. Mucus of the respiratory system (6)


14. Pertaining to the seven articulating bones in the foot (6)


17. Disease named after a Democratic Republic of the Congo river (5)


19. Diameter of a tube or cylinder (7)


21. State of unconsciousness (4) 22. Mental retardation (7)


23. Frequently the abbreviation of a government department? (3)


24. Neurological disorder affecting co-ordination (9)


DOWN 1. Ethics (10) 2. Gang of hunters (5) 3. Flags down a taxi (5) 4. Film villains (7) 6. Fibbing (5)


7. A pleasant acronym for NHS standards body (4)


9. He sang of Laughter in the Rain (4,6)


13. Sentinel (7) 15. Askew, out of kilter (5) 16. Prefix meaning “eight” (4) 18. Bestow (5)


20. Neurotoxin used for cosmetic procedures (brand name) (5)


See answers online at www.mddus.com. Go to the Notice Board page under News and Events.


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single tooth in her upper jaw removed and to arrange for two artificial teeth. The dentist advised her against the artificial teeth as he believed the wires would decay the adjoining teeth. In his view Mrs Harrison would get a better result if she had all the remaining teeth in her upper jaw removed in order to fit a set of dentures. The patient agreed and at her next appointment was


administered gas and on regaining consciousness discovered that three teeth from her lower jaw had been removed. In the later court case the solicitor acting for Mrs Harrison related: “The plaintiff was terribly upset and at once told Mr Millington [the dentist] that he had done wrong; that he had no right to touch her bottom teeth and that she never asked him to do so. Millington replied, ‘I know I have made a mistake’. Then before Mrs Harrison had even had her mouth washed out, Millington put on his hat and coat and left the premises.” The counsel for the defence tried to argue that the three teeth


removed from the lower jaw were decayed and that Mrs Harrison had instructed the defendant to remove them. But the presiding judge did not buy this explanation and Mr Millington eventually admitted that he was in a hurry on the day in question and that he might have confused Mrs Harrison’s case for another one. The judge found for the plaintiff and Mrs Harrison was awarded £55 and legal costs.


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