The Draught
Jun. 6th, 2011 11:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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alternityIn my promise to my readers, I submitted that I shall not allow any false instructions to stand. It is in that spirit that I inform you: arsenic exposure, either by skin or ingestion, is highly toxic. Nitroglycerin must be made in an ice bath to prevent violent explosions in the course of its creation. Caustic soda mixed with water will rapidly dissolve anything it comes into contact with, including bladders and human skin. The application of arsenic soap will do nothing to prevent this effect.
Any such chemical experiments suggested by writers MUST be practised first on an extremely small scale. Thus, if the reaction is harmful and the chemistry incorrect, the damage will be to your equipment and not to yourself.
I am, to my irritation, seeing a preponderance of journal entries which call upon their readers to seek ingredients not found in nature nor in their immediate environs. Any ingredients which you must rely upon others to provide are to be suspect. Any ingredients which must be purchased without reasonable pretense, such as a quantity of bladders, quicksilver, gunpowder, dynamite, or arsenic soap, are to be suspect. I had, at first, dismissed such writers merely as stunningly poor chemists whose incompetence was rivaled only by their recklessness. However, given the demands for ingredients that can easily be tracked at the point of purchase, I must conclude that those who ask such things have neither the safety nor the liberty of their readers at heart.
On The Practice of Occlumency - Part II
In the previous instalment of this series on Occlumency, the most basic method of resisting an intruder - wiping the mind clean of thought - was outlined. While an effective preventative, it likewise is the surest sign to those attempting to glean information that resistance techniques are being used. Thus, utilising the blank template which study will achieve, we shall learn to paint an environment which mimics the normal workings of the mind.
A practitioner of Legilimency will encounter three things as they enter a mind: emotions, memories, and impressions. Emotions are the mind's response to a given situation, memories are associations conjured by current happenings, and impressions are the feedback which the eyes give directly to the mind - in other words, that which is happening in the present moment. If any one of the three are missing, the illusion of viewing a normal mind is shattered. We shall begin with the simplest of the three. It is essential to continue the practice, established in Part I, of using the word 'Legilimens' as a trigger to induce the illusion. Speak this word aloud, or have a trusted associate speak it for you, before commencing these exercises.
A memory, to an intruder, will appear as a series of moving images similar to a film or moving photograph. In order to prevent oneself thinking of those memories which will best serve the purposes of an interrogator, one must practise thinking of a memory which is unrelated to the pertinent information, yet appropriate to the situation at hand. As it is yet quite difficult for those few who practice Legilimency to do so without the knowledge of their victim, said situation is likely to inspire fear and uncertainty. Choose one memory which is associated with these feelings, and practise bringing it and only it to the surface after blankness has been achieved. Once other memories intrude, cease and rest before trying again.
Once this memory can be called upon at will and sustained for minutes at a time, it is time to practise the addition of emotions. The emotions of a victim will be briefly experienced by an intruder, and have no visual component. Again, fear is the most potent and most natural of the emotions which will be experienced in an interrogation. Confusion, too, is a common emotion of the innocent under inquiry. Nearly every person has been wrongly accused of some act, either minor or major in severity, at some point in life. This emotion is the one which must join fear to create the illusion of blamelessness. Practise also calling forth anger, disgust, and indignation. When other feelings begin to occur besides those which have been chosen, or the chosen memory becomes vague, cease and rest.
Impressions call upon one to open one's mind to the happenings about them, which is difficult to maintain whilst creating a mental fallacy. Meditation and concentration will shut out some if not all of the sights and sounds of one's environs in favour of the considerable mental task at hand. A lack of impressions will betray the efforts of one attempting to screen themselves. In order to introduce impressions of the immediate surroundings, allow that sensory input to wash over the mind while at the same time maintaining the fearful memory and the emotions of alarm and confusion. Think of impressions as rainwater on a glass pane, and do not allow them to disturb or alter your illusion.
This final step will take the most time to establish, but it is essential in this practice to take heart in incremental measures of success. The cost is effort, and the reward is security.
The Treatment of Minor Burns: Poultice of Burdock Leaves
In the case of first and second degree burns, a poultice of burdock leaves is effective in healing the wound. Burdock is a biennial member of the thistle family, and is to be found on English roadsides and countrysides following its introduction in the early 19th century. It is distinguished by its broad, flat leaves, which are reminiscent of those of the rhubarb plant. Be careful to distinguish between the two, and study the illustration below before harvesting. This harvesting is done in the summer months, and only leaves which are palm-sized or larger should be gathered. While it is best to have a supply of dried leaves available for the purposes of first aid, freshly harvested leaves - washed thoroughly - will serve in cases of urgent need.
First, test an area of uninjured skin for adverse reactions by applying a fresh or dampened burdock leaf to the area. If there is no irritation or swelling after five minutes, proceed with the treatment. Clean the wound completely. Assuming a supply of dried burdock leaves, rehydrate them by soaking them for five minutes in warm water before applying them to the wound. Immediately cover the leaves with a dry, clean cloth, and secure it firmly. In the event that only fresh washed burdock leaves are available, inspect them minutely for insects and impurities before use and reject those which are anything less than clean. Reapply this same poultice twice each day lest the leaves stick to the healing skin. Wash the affected area between applications.
As always, use this information wisely.
Any such chemical experiments suggested by writers MUST be practised first on an extremely small scale. Thus, if the reaction is harmful and the chemistry incorrect, the damage will be to your equipment and not to yourself.
I am, to my irritation, seeing a preponderance of journal entries which call upon their readers to seek ingredients not found in nature nor in their immediate environs. Any ingredients which you must rely upon others to provide are to be suspect. Any ingredients which must be purchased without reasonable pretense, such as a quantity of bladders, quicksilver, gunpowder, dynamite, or arsenic soap, are to be suspect. I had, at first, dismissed such writers merely as stunningly poor chemists whose incompetence was rivaled only by their recklessness. However, given the demands for ingredients that can easily be tracked at the point of purchase, I must conclude that those who ask such things have neither the safety nor the liberty of their readers at heart.
On The Practice of Occlumency - Part II
In the previous instalment of this series on Occlumency, the most basic method of resisting an intruder - wiping the mind clean of thought - was outlined. While an effective preventative, it likewise is the surest sign to those attempting to glean information that resistance techniques are being used. Thus, utilising the blank template which study will achieve, we shall learn to paint an environment which mimics the normal workings of the mind.
A practitioner of Legilimency will encounter three things as they enter a mind: emotions, memories, and impressions. Emotions are the mind's response to a given situation, memories are associations conjured by current happenings, and impressions are the feedback which the eyes give directly to the mind - in other words, that which is happening in the present moment. If any one of the three are missing, the illusion of viewing a normal mind is shattered. We shall begin with the simplest of the three. It is essential to continue the practice, established in Part I, of using the word 'Legilimens' as a trigger to induce the illusion. Speak this word aloud, or have a trusted associate speak it for you, before commencing these exercises.
A memory, to an intruder, will appear as a series of moving images similar to a film or moving photograph. In order to prevent oneself thinking of those memories which will best serve the purposes of an interrogator, one must practise thinking of a memory which is unrelated to the pertinent information, yet appropriate to the situation at hand. As it is yet quite difficult for those few who practice Legilimency to do so without the knowledge of their victim, said situation is likely to inspire fear and uncertainty. Choose one memory which is associated with these feelings, and practise bringing it and only it to the surface after blankness has been achieved. Once other memories intrude, cease and rest before trying again.
Once this memory can be called upon at will and sustained for minutes at a time, it is time to practise the addition of emotions. The emotions of a victim will be briefly experienced by an intruder, and have no visual component. Again, fear is the most potent and most natural of the emotions which will be experienced in an interrogation. Confusion, too, is a common emotion of the innocent under inquiry. Nearly every person has been wrongly accused of some act, either minor or major in severity, at some point in life. This emotion is the one which must join fear to create the illusion of blamelessness. Practise also calling forth anger, disgust, and indignation. When other feelings begin to occur besides those which have been chosen, or the chosen memory becomes vague, cease and rest.
Impressions call upon one to open one's mind to the happenings about them, which is difficult to maintain whilst creating a mental fallacy. Meditation and concentration will shut out some if not all of the sights and sounds of one's environs in favour of the considerable mental task at hand. A lack of impressions will betray the efforts of one attempting to screen themselves. In order to introduce impressions of the immediate surroundings, allow that sensory input to wash over the mind while at the same time maintaining the fearful memory and the emotions of alarm and confusion. Think of impressions as rainwater on a glass pane, and do not allow them to disturb or alter your illusion.
This final step will take the most time to establish, but it is essential in this practice to take heart in incremental measures of success. The cost is effort, and the reward is security.
The Treatment of Minor Burns: Poultice of Burdock Leaves
In the case of first and second degree burns, a poultice of burdock leaves is effective in healing the wound. Burdock is a biennial member of the thistle family, and is to be found on English roadsides and countrysides following its introduction in the early 19th century. It is distinguished by its broad, flat leaves, which are reminiscent of those of the rhubarb plant. Be careful to distinguish between the two, and study the illustration below before harvesting. This harvesting is done in the summer months, and only leaves which are palm-sized or larger should be gathered. While it is best to have a supply of dried leaves available for the purposes of first aid, freshly harvested leaves - washed thoroughly - will serve in cases of urgent need.
First, test an area of uninjured skin for adverse reactions by applying a fresh or dampened burdock leaf to the area. If there is no irritation or swelling after five minutes, proceed with the treatment. Clean the wound completely. Assuming a supply of dried burdock leaves, rehydrate them by soaking them for five minutes in warm water before applying them to the wound. Immediately cover the leaves with a dry, clean cloth, and secure it firmly. In the event that only fresh washed burdock leaves are available, inspect them minutely for insects and impurities before use and reject those which are anything less than clean. Reapply this same poultice twice each day lest the leaves stick to the healing skin. Wash the affected area between applications.
As always, use this information wisely.
Order Only
Date: 2011-06-06 04:10 pm (UTC)Interesting that he is warning about the accuracy of other writers.
Re: Order Only
Date: 2011-06-06 06:41 pm (UTC)I don't mind telling you I've been fairly bored cooped up in the Shack, so I've been amusing myself lately by reading further afield. The horoscopes offered up by that Kalypso woman are simply laughable but actually rather entertaining for all that. And I think the puzzles that Menlo chap puts out are often better than the Prophet's crosswords, actually.
Still, there are rather a crop of 'advice' columns, aren't there. Household hints and such. Wonder where Snape's seeing the sort of thing he's talking about here. Have you seen anything advising using arsenic as a washing powder? I haven't.
(If you really want a laugh, though, you ought to check out Myopius Mancuso's journal - only not when Molly's around, if you know what I mean! I suspect your Fred and George and a fair number of boys their age and above have already availed themselves of his particular brand of anecdotes!)
Re: Order Only
Date: 2011-06-07 01:58 pm (UTC)You'll see that his essay has occasioned conversation amongst Healers. I offered to take up the pen to make a statement of our concerns because I believe that the young people here ought to have some warning not to mistake the usefulness of what he recommends.
As he indicates, a poultice of burdock or an application of burdock leaf to minor to moderate burns would offer some relief during recovery from the injury. And burdock has antiseptic properties (its seeds more than its leaves), which is why it is frequently incorporated by Healers in their wound poultices and burn pastes.
But taken as instructions for what to do in the aftermath of a severe burn of the sort caused by any of the calamities he mentions at the opening of his essay (burns from an explosion or from contact with lye), his procedures would not only waste time but also distract from the most essential immediate action demanded, to wit: in the case of deep traumatic or caustic burns, one must first quickly remove any burned or contaminated clothing from the site and then immediately flush the burn with copious amounts of tepid water.
In all burns, but especially those caused by contact with a caustic material or liquid, it is essential that the wound be not merely 'cleaned' (and, goodness, one hopes that common sense dictates it ought not be scrubbed!) but thoroughly flushed for at least 20-30 minutes as the caustic substance will not easily rinse away and will, so long as it is present, continue to consume not merely the skin but the flesh beneath if it is not entirely washed away.
It's troubling that he's not more clear. He opens by specifying that he has in mind the treatment of first- and second-order burns. (But does the average person have any idea which those are or how many orders of burning there might be?) And then he mentions 'cases of urgent need', a phrase which can be expected to raise hope that his procedures might help in dire situations involving quite severe burns.
That's not only untrue, but following his steps would do harm to the sufferer.
You see, under the guise of good sense and expert instruction, he'd have a would-be caregiver dither about, dampening dried burdock or finding fresh, then testing it in uninjured areas, and waiting precious minutes for any sign of irritation. And only then does he mention cleaning the wound? By that point a caustic burn would have eaten its way deep into the flesh and the injured unfortunate would need far more aid than burdock can offer.
His marks for accuracy are middling at best, Arthur: in his great care to communicate how one ought to prepare the burdock, he entirely muddles the order and necessary procedures for treating the sufferer.
I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good
Date: 2011-06-06 08:41 pm (UTC)It's so odd seeing things like this posted by Goyle, of all people.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-07 02:04 pm (UTC)First. There is no instance in which burdock is urgently needed. Burns of great severity--particularly those caused by contact with caustic substances (caustic soda or lye, for instance) or traumatic burns (for instance, those caused by explosions)--do not require the urgent application of burdock. Burdock does not reverse burn damage or halt the burning of caustic contaminants. It is not interventionary Healing magic.
In all cases, the first step in treating burns is to flush or wash the wounded area. Do NOT scrub the damaged flesh. Simply wash it with cool water for a sustained period of time to bring down the temperature of the skin, to flush away any contaminates, and most particularly to wash away any substances that may be causing the burn.
To be clear, then: in cases of severe burns, especially those caused by contact with caustic substances, the first step is to PROMPTLY remove any clothing or material or residue near the burn AND wash the burned area for 20-30 minutes. This is essential in cases of caustic burns because caustic substances are often quite difficult to rinse away, and they will, so long as they are present (even in tiny or dilute amounts) continue to consume not merely the skin but the flesh and even the bones beneath.
So what is the use of burdock? As this writer says, as a home remedy in cases of minor or moderate burns like those caused by the sun or a spill of hot water or a small splash of candle wax, burdock leaf (applied to a well-washed wound) may provide some relief for the residual pain, some quickening of recovery, and a degree of protection against infection.
Poppy Pomfrey
Matron Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
ORDER ONLY
Date: 2011-06-07 02:42 pm (UTC)I hope this won't get you into trouble.
Re: ORDER ONLY
Date: 2011-06-07 03:43 pm (UTC)I think, honestly, the question it begs is whether the College of Healers needs to fund a position for someone charged to vet all that passes for Healing advice in these journals to and issue warnings where warranted. Of course, the CoH have no funds for such a position.
St Mungo's raised the issue in the case of this writer because his essays have attracted considerable audience, as witnessed apparently by an uptick in admittances for eye injuries from blackness powder and not a few burns in consequence of experimentation with flour explosives. Why, even here at Hogwarts, we had Quidditch players attempting to use blackness powder to blind their opponents, and we were exceedingly fortunate there were no fatal falls in consequence of that prank!
I learned yesterday that St Mungo's staff have been put on notice that MLE are to be called whenever a patient is treated for injuries bearing any conceivable connection to procedures promoted by this writer. (There are, in fact, a handful of journal-keepers whose writings have been red-flagged by MLE for St Mungo's attention, but this one ranks high on their list.)
My St Mungo's colleagues themselves have no idea who he is, and I've obviously not shared the view of my secret acquaintances that this writer is Severus Snape. They are merely on edge about the potential damage his writings might cause.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-07 06:46 pm (UTC)I thank you for the favour of collaborating with me upon my post by offering such helpful details as the rigorous definition of "clean the wound completely." My sympathies to you in advance, Madame, for the punishment which shall surely be yours for acknowledging anything I say to be true. You are, of course, invited to write with me in the future if your true concern for public health leads you to throw off the yoke of the Ministry in favour of continuing to disseminate the truth. Should you lack that courage, however, I hope you will nonetheless continue to apply your talents to other journals which also purport to give advice.
Good day, Madame Pomfrey, and good luck.
Select:
Order Only
Date: 2011-06-07 07:16 pm (UTC)He doesn't even have the sense to get that you're telling him he's full of dragon dung, Poppy. What a right pillock. Azkaban's done nothing to improve his social skills.
Re: Order Only
Date: 2011-06-08 12:27 am (UTC)I don't believe I'll honour him with a reply. No point escalating the business or providing a side-show.
Sirius. It's good to hear from you. I worry when time slips away and you're silent. Of course, I'm certain that if someone had seized upon you, I'd have heard of it.
That's one good thing about having Professor Lestrange on my ward: he's not currently putting you in peril. Otherwise, it's a deep inconvenience having him here; it has put me in the way of spending considerable time with his brother, who is one dangerous customer. I was sincerely hoping the family would shift Professor Lestrange to St Mungo's, but this is not a lucky season for me, it would seem.