I admit that a large part of the appeal of both shows is the historical study of medicine. I have been constantly surprised at some of the earliest treatments, some for their daring and some for their futility—if not utter nonsense. It is fascinating that some of the greatest advancements of medicine came from serving some of the poorest and most socially despised folk of London.
One surprise was a treatment for joint pain stemming from someone suffering from the bends, or nitrous oxide poisoning. His hands and feet were placed in basins of water through which electricity was run. Thus, the history of the use of electrical current in pain treatment goes back over 100 years!
I was also surprised and saddened to see the bodily sacrifices of those who worked in early x-ray research before the dangers of exposure were known. And there was one doctor of the mind who was convinced that one's psychological condition was often connected to one's physiological condition. He believed that if only those suffering from melancholy and other mental conditions could accurately describe their physical condition, then they could be treated better. He ended up studying the effects of pain on the mind by having a surgeon sever nerves in his arm and documenting both his physical and mental condition as a result of the pain and loss of function.
I found it interesting that nurses at The London Hospital and elsewhere were not allowed to marry until the 1960s. They were viewed to be married to their vocation of nursing in a sense, with a belief that one could not effectively be both nurse and wife/mother. I never knew that.
And I found it rather interesting that one of the largest donor bases for The London Hospital, in its beginnings, was the Jewish community of London, even though Jews were despised on many fronts. There was a Jew-only ward, because Jews desired to be separate, but their support was for the hospital and the community as a whole, the poorest, most filth and sin-filled community of London. The humble serving of fellow man by the Jewish community without regard to race, color, or creed, struck me as particularly Christ-like.
A final line of interest was the difference between a suffragist and a suffragette. I never really understood which was which even after watching the episode, but one set believed in bringing about the right for women to vote by any means necessary, including violence, and the other by reasoned debate and educational outreach.
This brought to mind how, in both the women's ordination and contemporary worship movements, there does seem to be a bit of division between those who are not against violence —at least the violence of words, the bullying of others, and the public condemnation of others—and those who believe in reasoned debate and educational outreach.
In one episode, a woman threw acid on ballots, injuring both herself and others. She cared not for the harm she caused in pursuit of her cause. I wonder if those who fling acidic words about care for the harm they cause in pursuit of their cause.
I found it interesting that nurses at The London Hospital and elsewhere were not allowed to marry until the 1960s. They were viewed to be married to their vocation of nursing in a sense, with a belief that one could not effectively be both nurse and wife/mother. I never knew that.
And I found it rather interesting that one of the largest donor bases for The London Hospital, in its beginnings, was the Jewish community of London, even though Jews were despised on many fronts. There was a Jew-only ward, because Jews desired to be separate, but their support was for the hospital and the community as a whole, the poorest, most filth and sin-filled community of London. The humble serving of fellow man by the Jewish community without regard to race, color, or creed, struck me as particularly Christ-like.
A final line of interest was the difference between a suffragist and a suffragette. I never really understood which was which even after watching the episode, but one set believed in bringing about the right for women to vote by any means necessary, including violence, and the other by reasoned debate and educational outreach.
This brought to mind how, in both the women's ordination and contemporary worship movements, there does seem to be a bit of division between those who are not against violence —at least the violence of words, the bullying of others, and the public condemnation of others—and those who believe in reasoned debate and educational outreach.
In one episode, a woman threw acid on ballots, injuring both herself and others. She cared not for the harm she caused in pursuit of her cause. I wonder if those who fling acidic words about care for the harm they cause in pursuit of their cause.
This came to mind both for the things I have seen written about the issues referenced above and for the words someone spewed out about Trayvon Martin in a Facebook forum on women's ordination. Clearly a fan of Mr. Zimmerman, the one who posted judged and condemned the life of Martin, a seventeen-year-old boy, with harsh words and callous disregard for his life. I was disturbed by the words and by the fact that they were coming from someone whose was at/connected to Lutheran seminary, and therefore presumably of the Lutheran faith utterly and completely disregarding what Luther has taught about the 8th Commandment and speaking about others.
I find little love for our neighbors anymore online, especially by Christians (Lutherans) on Facebook and in the blogosphere. A 17-year-old lost his life simply by walking home from a store. There should be sorrow and mourning for him, even if he was a troubled young man.
I sorrow, too, for the rioters, because they are caught up in something larger than themselves, but mostly likely are voicing fears and frustrations and struggles that have no other outlet.
And I sorrow for Mr. Zimmerman. To have blood on your hands has to be difficult.
I find little love for our neighbors anymore online, especially by Christians (Lutherans) on Facebook and in the blogosphere. A 17-year-old lost his life simply by walking home from a store. There should be sorrow and mourning for him, even if he was a troubled young man.
I sorrow, too, for the rioters, because they are caught up in something larger than themselves, but mostly likely are voicing fears and frustrations and struggles that have no other outlet.
And I sorrow for Mr. Zimmerman. To have blood on your hands has to be difficult.
Lord, have mercy upon us all. Christ, have mercy upon us all. Lord, have mercy upon us all.
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!
No comments:
Post a Comment