Foto: Michael Frank

Un articolo di Monica Marelli – Fonte: www.wired.it

ALCOHOL
È l’antisettico più comune: distrugge i batteri della bocca rompendo la loro membrana e scombinando le proteine contenute. In queste condizioni i microrganismi non possono più riprodursi. Il nome Listerine è un omaggio a Joseph Lister, lo scienziato inglese che per primo ipotizzò la necessità di “pulire” le ferite e gli strumenti chirurgici per evitare le morti per infezioni. Nel 1861 Lister operava alla Royal Infirmary di Glasgow, circondato da colleghi piuttosto scettici: ritenevano che microrganismi invisibili non potessero esistere e che le morti fossero causate da un fantomatico gas velenoso.

A parte gli effetti devastanti per i piccoli abitanti della bocca, l’alcol ha un effetto rinfrescante perché provoca un’immediata vasodilatazione dei capillari: la sensazione bruciante del momento è dovuta al maggior afflusso di sangue, che “porta” calore. Il calore poi si disperde, lasciando una sensazione glaciale. Leggenda: bere Listerine disinfetta il cibo ingerito, eventualmente avariato. Bufala: per ingannare l’etilometro è sufficiente fare uno sciacquo con i collutori alcolici prima del controllo. Tentare di giustificarsi dicendo: «No guardi agente io sono sobrio, l’etilometro ha misurato l’alcol nella mia bocca, non nel mio corpo» è una figuraccia che potete risparmiarvi. Secondo il Codice della Strada (art. 379) il test va ripetuto dopo 15 minuti e a quel punto il collutorio sarà evaporato.

SORBITOL
È uno zucchero, serve a migliorare il sapore. Come mai il miglior alleato della carie è inserito in un liquido progettato per la salute dei denti e della bocca? Semplice: il sorbitolo è indigesto ai batteri della carie, non riescono cioè a metabolizzarlo per ottenere energia. Attenzione, se durante uno sciacquo vi capitasse di inghiottire la bicchierata di liquido per sbaglio, potreste aver bisogno di una toilette: il sorbitolo ha un’azione lassativa.

POLOXAMER 407
Sembra l’ennesima arma segreta di 007, invece è un tensioattivo, cioè permette agli oli essenziali presenti nella formulazione di rimanere ben mescolati nell’acqua. Quindi tutti gli aspiranti James Bond impegnati nel risciacquo del cavo orale possono rilassarsi: grazie al polassamero non è necessario agitare o mescolare il prodotto prima dell’uso.

EUCALYPTOL
È un olio essenziale estratto dall’eucalipto, presente anche nel basilico e nel rosmarino. È aggiunto alle caramelle e ai collutori per il suo sapore pungente e rinfrescante. Alcune ricerche dimostrano che l’eucaliptolo può anche alleviare leggere infiammazioni ed è un blando disinfettante. Non usate il Listerine per disinfettare un taglietto da barba: potreste attirare i maschi delle api orchidea, che sfruttano l’eucaliptolo come profumo per sedurre le femmine.

METHYL SALICYLATE
Nonostante il nome così “chimico” è una sostanza naturale estratta dall’olio nelle foglie della pianta Gaultheria procubens o Tè del Canada. Ha proprietà antisettiche e antinfi ammatorie.

THYMOL
È il componente principale dell’olio essenziale estratto dal timo. Ha proprietà disinfettanti ed è utilizzato per difendere le api dai parassiti.

SODIUM BENZOATE
Questo ingrediente è aggiunto per scongiurare la proliferazione di funghi e batteri. Il professor Peter Piper dell’Università di Sheffield ha sperimentato l’azione di questa sostanza su alcuni lieviti, scoprendo che danneggia i mitocondri, le “centrali energetiche” delle cellule. Potrebbe quindi il sodio benzoato danneggiare anche il dna umano? Nel dubbio, il professor Piper invita a non consumare cibi e bevande che lo contengono. E il Listerine non va ingerito.

CI 42090
Quel bel verde-acqua tendente all’azzurro cristallino è merito del colorante Cl 42090, utilizzato in alcuni cibi (dove però appare con la sigla E133) e nel make-up. Non crediate però di essere trendy nell’avere le labbra azzurrine.

Monica Marelli (mmarelli@wired.it) è fisica e scrittrice. Il suo recente La fisica del tacco 12 (Rizzoli) spiega tra l’altro che se la vostra dieta fallisce è tutta colpa della termodinamica.

Publicité Listerine

L’humour est souvent utilisé par les compagnies afin d’attirer le client. Souvent, comme dans la publicité suivante, l’on utilise le mix d’une situation qui à priori est très grave avec l’humour pour vendre le produit. Dans la publicité suivante, l’on remarque que l’homme est dans une ambulance et qu’il semble souffrir d’un malaise quelconque, mais l’humour entre en ligne de compte en présentant les ambulanciers avec les masques respiratoires au visage, car l’homme souffre de mauvaise haleine.

Nous avons aussi la preuve que la présence visuelle du produit n’a pas besoin d’être très forte. La personne qui regarde la publicité aperçoit le produit et elle n’a pas besoin de bien plus pour comprendre le message.

Selon moi c’est ce genre de publicité que je considère réussi, car la recherche d’une image qui présente le concept et qui amène à l’utilité du produit. Donc, Listerine n’a pas eu besoin de présenter son produit en format géant pour attirer l’attention.

Qu’en pensez-vous?

Hoje eu estava de bobeira no trabalho, e percebi o quanto um apelido pode servir como referência de lembrança de marca.

Na década de 90 tinha um  metaleiro no bairro cujo apelido era “Pacol”, de Cepacol (devia ter um bafo daqueles).

Hoje chamaram um amigo meu de Listerine.

Ou seja, sacanear os amigos também é um exercício de lembrança de marca; dá para perceber que o Cepacol foi substitu;ido pelo Listerine na cabeça do consumidor.

Quantos amigos seus não tem um apelido de um produto?

Só falta o dia em que ao invés de chamarem uma pessoa de cabelo de bombril, apelidarem o infeliz de assolan.

i went to the dentist on monday. even though i am crazy obsessed with my oral hygiene, the dentist is not on the top of my list as to fun places to be.     

i have a slight love affair with listerine. my favorite is the vanilla flavor. love it! i get excited over the prospect of buying a new tube of toothpaste. i know…weirdo!

so after my visit to my new dentist (the last one had shaky hands, no bueno) her “financial assistant” gave me a list of the work i need to have done. both the dentist and the “assistant” made it seem that my teeth are going to fall out of my head if i do not get these 2 procedures done with in the next month. if you know me at all, then i’m sure i’ve shared with you my completely irrational fear of losing teeth. not just any teeth. my two front teeth. i don’t know when or how this fear developed but it is utterly ridiculous! anyhow, the damage is $1,300…that is after my amazing Kaiser insurance.  good grief.

Noah for precis iväg som ett skott och gömde sig bakom soffan, med skräck i blicken och gråten i halsen. Han är livrädd för Listerinereklamen. Fullkomligt skräckslagen. Han börjar också gråta när de skrattar i kexchokladreklamen och när SAAB försöker kränga sina bilar.

Däremot älskar han när det är hundar eller andra bilmärken än just SAAB på TV:n.

When making my decision between drinking a glass of red or white wine, I usually pick vodka. But sometimes that is simply not an option. So my thought process usually goes something like this:

Who doesn’t drink a glass of ice-cold vodka at dinner time? Strange. Wine it is then. But the only people who drink white wine are those trashy housewives in Atlanta and Kirsten from the O.C. We all remember those infamous words before she sent herself off to rehab, “I may like my Chardonnay, but I won’t end up alone! And that’s more than I can say for you!” Wow, that was a train wreck. Better opt for a glass of red. But I’m trying to meet some boys tonight and I don’t think purple teeth are going to work to my advantage. Plus, I’m trying to maintain a glowing smile so I can one day become rich and famous for my million-dollar smile. So I better stick to white wine.

That entire inner monologue could have been avoided had I know this fun fact: White wine is actually worse for your teeth than red.  White wine is high in acid, and that can wear away tooth enamel and intensify the stains left by the double espresso you slammed at the library the night before.

Ub40 was so, so right: Red red wine, you make me (and my teeth) feel so fine. You keep me rocking all of the time….

So for all of you winos who drink soda through a straw and religiously brush your teeth before and after every meal, your best bet is to skip the 2-Buck-Chuck Sauvignon Blanc and order a bottle of red. Or just chug some Listerine. That should do the trick.

Supposedly, Davidelfin’s Madrid-based Diego David Domínguez González took this season’s collection inspiration from Le Corbusier’s polychromie spectrums. But I ask you this evening, as I sip the green foam off my green tea latte, if you’re sure he didn’t have a far more practical source of creative fuel. . .

…Am I right, or am I right? Decide for yourself.

This deal will include more than milk & cookies but you can sit back, read a nice book, and treat yourself with this little treat after your trip.

If you’ve worked it out, post a comment to let me know, I’d love to hear from you.

(1) Nabisco Cakesters Soft Snack Cakes Oreo: Original, Chocolate Creme or Peanut Butter Creme; or Nilla: Original or Strawberry Creme, 6 pkg, 10.56 or 12 oz box, save up to 3.29
$1/1 Nabisco Oreo Cakesters, Any Variety 10.5 Oz.-12 Oz. (Tearpad)
$1.50 off Nabisco Cookies, WYB any (1) pkg. Oreos (5-18 oz.) or Oreo Cakesters (10.56-12 oz) AND 1 Gallon of Milk (Tearpad)
$1/2 Nabisco Cookies or Crackers
$1 Oreo (FLIP)

Subtotal: $20.56
Total (Pre-Tax) OOP: will vary based on coupons used but is LESS than $5

Reaping In Abundance,
Kay

Por Richard Morita

O apelo da indústria farmacêutica em vender seus produtos através de excelentes campanhas publicitária faz com que os consumidores fiquem na dúvida de qual solução de enxague bucal é mais eficiente para ser utilizado durante a higienização bucal.

Eu particularmente não utilizo com frequência nenhum produto específico, apenas aqueles que eu ganho das promotoras das empresas que visitam meu consultório ou em congressos de odontologia.

Cientificamente está comprovado que o sucesso da higiene oral está relacionado a uma escovação dentária completa com complementação do uso correto do fio dental.  Aliado a isso recomendamos a profilaxia dentária (limpeza profissional) para remoção de tártaro e placa bacteriana pelo menos a cada 6 meses no consultório odontológico.

Pacientes com gengivite ou problemas periodontais (gengiva e osso ao redor do dente inflamados e acúmulo de tártaro) devem ser tratados no consultório e receber concomitantemente instruções quando a correta higienização bucal com complementação de uma solução para bochecho específico para esses casos e/ou uso de um creme dental especial também.

Os duas doenças de maior prevalência  na odontologia brasileira são a doença cárie e a doença periodontal e o principal responsável é o acúmulo de placa bacteriana ao redor dos dentes. Essa placa bacteriana pode calcificar com o auxílio de uma saliva rica em sais minerais originando o tártaro (cálculo dental) ou pode sofre ações das bactérias e de alimentos (carboidratos) dando origem a doença cárie ou desgastes no esmalte dos dentes.

Portando, recomendo uma constante visita de retorno ao cirurgião dentista, aliado a uma correta higienização oral com escova de cerdas super macias e fio dental, caso voce tenha dúvida na maneira correta de escovar os dentes não tenha vergonha de pedir uma orientação com o profissional de sua confiança, seu sorriso agradece.  Os bochechos tradicionais só terão efeito por um curto período de tempo e psicologicamente através da sensação de “hálito puro”.  Se for utiliza-los dê preferência àqueles sem álcool.

Por fim de faço um alerta,  prezado leitor:  nunca utilize receitas caseiras como água oxigenada para fazer bochecho, somente faça isso com orientação do profissional, em casos específicos e por curtíssimo período de tempo, 0 peróxido de hidrogênio nele contido é prejudicial aos tecidos ao redor do dente e pode causar reabsorção da raiz dentária.

Even dentists hate flossing.  However, by not flossing, you may be missing 35% of the surfaces of your teeth.  You know the drill (pun intended): if you don’t clean your teeth, you develop cavities – cavities require fillings – some fillings become crowns.  This downward spiral continues with root canal therapy, gum disease and even loss of teeth – all from not flossing.

At Boulevard Smiles, Dr. Joe Hair recommends a Water Pik®  for his patients who don’t floss, as well as for some who do.  This link is for the specific Water Pik® : http://tinyurl.com/y9mydq8

This is the WP100 model.  There is usually a coupon on this page for $5.00 off the cost.

Boulevard Smiles Water Pik®  Recipe:

Fill the reservoir about two-thirds to three-fourths full of warm water.  Add a capful of your favorite flavor of Listerine®. Next, and this is the strange part, add ½ to 1 pump of Dial® Antibacterial Hand Soap.  The soap is a surfactant; it wets the teeth better and gets under the plaque to wash it off. The antibacterial/antimicrobial qualities of Listerine® and the Dial® soap help to kill the bacteria which cause dental problems.

Once you have added the Listerine® and soap to the Water Pik® , you will want to mix it together.  Place the Water Pik®  tip down into the reservoir, and turn on the unit.  Turn the intensity setting all the way up to 10.  After the solution is mixed, turn the intensity back down to 1, and turn the unit off.  This intensity knob is why Dr. Hair likes this specific model.  Everyone starts off at a setting of 1 and gradually moves up to 10 as the gums get healthier.

Place the Water Pik®  tip in your mouth before turning on the unit, or you will have water everywhere.  Aim the tip directly at the tooth along the gum line, perpendicular to the teeth, not up into the gums.  Start at the back tooth and trace along the gum line saying, “along the gum and in between… along the gum and in between.”  You may not move any faster than you can say it. Start at the back and go to the front until you have traced all of the teeth top and bottom, inside and out.

You just have to get over the soap taste.  Our patients tell us how much they love using this technique, and they say the soap-taste isn’t really an issue.  As a matter of fact, the soap comes in different smells that can alter the taste, making it better tasting.  One of my patients would not ever floss; however, his wife says he never misses a day using the Water Pik® , and we can tell it by looking at the health of his gums.

Using the Water Pik®  does not replace flossing, but, as my father used to say, it is way out in front of whatever is in 2^nd place.

This is for all you the outdoor group and back yard BBQ people, have a great time free of the little pests !!!

Mosquito Spray….Worth a try
I was at a deck party awhile back, and the bugs were having a ball biting everyone. A man at the party sprayed the lawn and deck floor with Listerine, and the little demons disappeared. The next year I filled a 4-ounce spray bottle and used it around my seat whenever I saw mosquitoes. And voila! That worked as well. It worked at a picnic where we sprayed the area around the food table, the children’s swing area, and the standing water nearby. During the summer, I don’t leave home without it……Pass it on.

OUR FRIEND’S COMMENTS: I tried this on my deck and around all of my doors. It works – in fact, it killed them instantly. I bought my bottle from Target and it cost me $1.89. It really doesn’t take much, and it is a big bottle, too; so it is not as expensive to use as the can of Bug-spray you buy that doesn’t last 30 minutes. So, try this, please. It will last a couple of days. Don’t spray directly on a wood door (like your front door), but spray around the frame. Spray around the window frames, and even inside the dog house.

RED = item(s) free after coupon(s) &/or RR

*Reese’s candy
Sale Price: $0.88, buy 2
Use: $0.55/1 and BOGO (8/23 SS)
Final Price: $0.33 for 2

*Vaseline Sheer Infusion Lotion
Sale Price: $7.99
Use: $1.50/1 PRINT IP
Earn: $7 ECB (Limit 1)
Final Price: Free ($1.50 MM)  after coupon and ECB

*Febreze Air Effects
Sale Price: $2.99
Use: $1/1 (8/30 PG) AND Free Candle wyb 1 Air Effects (9/27 PG)
Final Price: $1.99, or $0.99 each

*Swiffer Wet Jet
Sale Price: $19.99
Use: $5/1 (9/27 PG) AND Free Solution Refill wyb Starter Kit (9/27 PG; up to $7)
Final Price: $14.99

*Colgate Toothpaste
Sale Price: 2/$5.50
Use: (2) $1/1 (9/13 SS)
Earn: $1.50 ECB wyb 2 (Limit 4)
Final Price: $2, or $1 each after coupons and ECB

*Gillette Fusion or Venus
Sale Price: $9.99
Use: $4/1 Fusion (9/27 PG)
Earn: $5 ECB (Limit 1)
Final Price: $0.99 after coupon and ECB
OR
Use: $2/1 Venus (8/16 RP)
Earn: $5 ECB (Limit 1)
Final Price: $2.99 after coupon and ECB

*Accu Chek Blood Glucose Monitor
Sale Price: $14.99
Use: $10/1 (8/23 SS)
Earn: $5 ECB (Limit 2)
Final Price: Free after coupon and ECB

*CVS True Result Blood Glucose Monitor
Sale Price: $14.99
Earn: $14.99 ECB
Final Price: Free after ECB

*ThermaCare
Sale Price: $6.99
Use: $3/1 PRINT IP
Earn: $1 ECB (Limit 5)
Final Price: $2.99 after coupon and ECB

*Listerine Total Care Mouthwash, Reach Toothbrush 2pk, Reach Floss
Sale Price: $3.99
Use: $2/1 Total Care (4/26 RP)
Earn $1 ECB (Limit 3)
Final Price: $0.99 after coupon and ECB
OR
Use: $2/1 Reach TB (6/21 SS) and BOGO (4/26 RP)
Earn: $1 ECB (Limit 3)
Final Price: $0.99 for (2) 2 packs after coupon(s) and ECB
OR
Use: $1/1 Reach Floss (6/14 SS)
Earn: $1 ECB (Limit 3)
Final Price: $1.99 after coupon and ECB

(Current Publix BOGOs, 9/23-9/29, HERE)

My children LOVE their mouthwash and this week they will be seeing LOTS of it.

(4) Listerine Advanced Antiseptic Mouthwash or Total Care, Agent Cool Blue or Smart Rinse, 500 ml bot, 3.69
$1/1 printable
B1G1 8/2SS
$1/1 6/14SS

Tide Stain Release, 10ct. or 20fl. oz, reg. price $3.99
$0.75/1, 8/2P&G
$1/1 (Smartsource Dispenser)
$1.50/1 (Homemailer)
$2/1 “Put Clean In Your Cart” booklet

***You can always alternate some of these items with an item that cost less or simply that works best for your family needs.

Scenario (Coupons Used):
(1)$5/$20 Rite Aid
(2) $1/1 Listerine Agent Cool Blue
(2) B1G1 Listerine Agent Cool Blue
(2) $1/1 Dole Sugar Free
(1) $1.50/1 or $1/1 Tide Stain Release
(1) $2/1 Tide Stain Release, Publix Store coupon

Subtotal: $21.04
Total (Pre-Tax) OOP: $1.16-$1.66 (depending on manuf. Tide Stain Release Q used)

Today was a great day! In the morning, I went to Aaron’s class and he showed great examples and also taught on levels. He wants the class to start sketching for assignment 2 & 3. However, this post isn’t about that assignment as I am not officially the student for that class. Carmen & I planned on doing the Multimedia “Super” Design assignment today. We were assigned to do a poster with a topic of our choice within the category of brand, promotional items, sports and “I forgot the other one”. We both had already knew what we wanted to do, so a shopping list was drawn out and I went SHOPPING!!! This isn’t anywhere near Gurney or Queensbay. First, she came to my house to do the photo shoot for my poster and then later we proceed to hers.

I chose the brand Durex as I felt that its actually a very interesting yet funny brand. The brand itself has lots of humorous advertisements. I went to Watson to study the “types” of products they have…I’m not using…just buying for this poster!!! Anyway I found the Extra Safe pack really interesting and when you turn to the back of the box it stated “No method of contraception can give you 100% protection against pregnancy, HIV or sexually transmitted infections. Imagine if you buy an Extra Safe pack and it says this statement at the back of the box, don’t you ever think the percentage of the other products would be…lower??? Anyway, it’s a class assignment so…haha I enjoy! Not using it…I mean doing the poster…

I added the word extra force as I’m using soldiers in my poster to convey safety and protection whilst the force word could also mean soldiers/reinforcement/army and energy (as in while using it). I’m lovin’ it…

Carmen on the other hand chose Listerine as her promotional item. She uses the toilet bowl to represent the mouth whilst the “sai” (in English, Sh!t) as the bad breath. Her entire concept was based on the tag line “Kill germs that causes bad breath”. Anyway I like this poster a lot…had a lot of fun doing it too! After everything, I had to clear up and she had to wash the bowl thoroughly as you can see the amount of fake sh!t in the bowl!

I just think it’s funny.

I’m in the kitchen, because it’s sort of where I usually go YouTubing or just on my computer, but I’m sort of in a pissed off mood, so I’d usually be in my room in this state. The reason I’m in here now is because I wanted my mum to make my bed so I could go back in my room and hibernate in there becuase I LIKE A NICE CLEAN AND NEAT BED. Call me OCD. CALL ME OCD AND YOU’LL END UP IN A BED SOMEWHERE IN IDAHO HOLDING POTATOES AND HEAR SNORING IN A VERY DARK ROOM…

I’m still in my Pjs. I’m still in my pj’s because when I got out of bed I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. There wasn’t any Listerine. I went to my mum’s room to ask her where the Listering (LAWL I SAID LISTERING! orz) was, and she said to take the Listerine from her room. When I took it, I went back to the bathroom. No, actually, I only got as far as the bathroom door because my brother was in there. And then I came down here because my stomach growled and when that happens MY STOMACH NEEDS FOOD. When my stomach doesn’t get food, it gets angry. My tummy’s name is Mr. Biggelsworth. And When Mr. Biggelsworth gets angry, PEOPLE DIE!!!!!!!11oneone.

In here, the tv was on. The TV swivels around, like on a lazy susan ‘coz it’s oldish AND THATS HOW MY FAMILY ROLLS. if you like lazy Susan tvs then RoLl WiTh My CrEw!!!!! So the tv isn’t facing me. When I first came in to the kitchen, Clean House (like my favourite cleaning show EVARRR) was on. So I was listening to it. Then, my brother came in to get food. And he dropped ribs on the floor. And then he turned on Comedy Central. Comedy Central has sum funnie shows thar. I like MTV, because Punk’d is good and MTV2 because Silent Library is so jacked up it’s hilarious (REMEMBER ROLL WITH MY CREW). Then, my dad came in and turned on the tennis thing. I think it’s the French Open. I don’t know. I hate watching sports, but I love playing tennish (ORZ I SAID TENNISHHH) in p.e. One time I played wit Del and Ninrz n Zozo and it was so cool. They hit the ball out of the court three times. Zozo n I could hardly get the ball over the net.

My little brother asked me to make him some ramen. I know how to make ramen, but I usually get someone to make it for me. So I filled up the pot with water, but then I got a cup out and I was like, “Nicholas, read the instructions…Why don’t I ever read instructions on thingsLAWL” And then we put 2 cups of water in and tried to turn on the stove. That’s the OBSTACLE OF MY LIFE. . . BECAUSE STOVES BRING FIREY DOOMM!!! When we finally got it on, we could smell the gas so that’s bad.

Anyways I think it’s funny how people change the channel of the tv and think that I’m not listening to it. I was going to yell but then I was like no. Also, another funny thing is that was the original concept of this post. Then, it came into this monstrosity.

WELL I BETTER GET GOING ON THE OLD DUSTY TRAIL

x

Ibland är det ett problem att jag är så lydig. Foglig och auktoritetsrädd, liksom. Man behöver inte vara Freud för att lista ut hur det kommer sig (testa själv att växa upp med en norrländsk patriark årsmodell 1935, så får ni se exakt hur uppkäftiga ni blir) men det kanske skulle behövas nån av Freuds sort för att styra om mig vad gäller det beteendet.

För ibland är det, som sagt, något av ett problem. För närvarande är tandtråden slut i det här hushållet. Den tog slut för knappt två dygn sedan. Jag flossar mina tänder varje kväll, och avslutar med en omgång Listerine. Det bör alltså inte frodas alltför många bakterier i mitt tandkött, men ändå har jag redan ont. Det liksom ilar och bultar, som om jag misskött munhälsan i ett halvår eller så.

Och jag vet vad detta beror på. 2005 gick jag till en ovanligt auktoritär tandläkare. Hon gillade inte vad hon såg. Jag skulle komma att tappa varenda tand, såvida jag inte omedelbart började flossa regelbundet. Det var ungefär vad hon sa.

Så vad gör jag? Är from, lydig och följsam, förstås. Det är möjligt att ingen flossar sina tänder så noga som jag gjort sedan dess. Åtminstone är få så säkra som jag på att det skulle gå käpprätt åt helvete, om jag slappade till mig.

Och om inte mina fantomsmärtor i väntan på ny laddning tandtråd har övertygat er om vidden av hur lätt det är att styra mig, kan jag ju avslöja att typ tanke nummer två eller tre när Jaycee Dugard hade återfunnits var – just det: “undrar om han försåg henne med tandtråd, annars har hon nog inga tänder kvar”. Jep, somliga hjärntvättar man synnerligen enkelt.

 By Rev. Ed Hird

 ”Nothing exceeds halitosis as a social offense.  Nothing equals Listerine® as a remedy.” Such was the claim of a 1928 advertisement for Listerine ® mouthwash. Listerine® Antiseptic mouthwash, wasn’t born in the bathroom, however, but in the operating room. 

Back in 1865, Dr. Joseph Lister, the son of a well-known physicist, first demonstrated the use of an antiseptic in surgery.  Later, Dr. Joseph Lawrence refined his product and named it Listerine® after Dr. Lister.  History is uncertain whether Lister appreciated the favour.

One hundred and thirty years ago, almost 50% of the patients undergoing major surgery died from infection. As the famous saying went, “The operation was a success, but the patient died.”  In the 1870’s, Lister was the first to treat wounds with dressings soaked in carbolic acid.  Lister, in agreement with Dr. Louis Pasteur, suggested surgeons wash their hands and sterilize their instruments before operating.  After significant resistance, British and American hospitals gradually adopted the sterile procedures promoted by Lister. 

Lister and Pasteur were personal friends who supported each other when viciously attacked by the medical establishment.  When Pasteur was publicly honoured at age 70 by his medical peers,  he turned and bowed his head towards Lister, saying: “the future belongs to him who has done the most for suffering humanity.”

Lister has been described as the greatest man of the nineteenth century.  Even the common Bandaid, created by Johnson and Johnson, can be directly traced to Lister’s influence.

In the days before Lister, the death rate from amputation, the most frequent ‘major’ operation in his day, was forty percent.  By 1910, thanks to Lister’s influence, the death rate from amputation had dropped to less than three percent.  How many of us had relatives who were injured in World War One or Two, relatives who might not had survived without Lister’s contributions?

One of the most feared accidents a hundred years ago was the compound fracture, where the sharp end of the broken bone pierced the skin.  Because it so often resulted in death from infection, most doctors would immediately amputate the victim’s arms and legs.  When I think about how many of our teens have come back from Mount Seymour and Grouse with compound fractures from skiing or snowboarding, I give thanks for Joseph Lister.

Back then, surgeons did not wear gowns or gloves, nor did they cover their hair with caps or their noses and their mouths with masks.  The result was that the patient was in danger of infection, not from ‘bad air’ as they thought, but from the surgeon’s hands, his clothes, his breath, and his hair.   Lister had heard that ‘carbolic acid,’ a coal-tar derivative used to preserve railway tracks and ships’ timbers, was effective in treating sewage in Carlise, and in curing cattle of parasites.  By cleaning wounds and dressing his patients with carbolic acid, Lister was able to keep his hospital ward in Glasgow free of infection for nine months.  Lister’s cloud of carbolic spray drenched the whole area, surgeon and all, and so killed the bacteria before they had a chance to invade the wound.

Carbolic spray, however, was caustic to the skin and body tissues, and sometimes caused poisoning.  The surgeon’s skin would become bleached and numb, his nails cracked, and his lungs sore as he breathed in large quantities of carbolic.  Some surgeons became so ill that they had to give up using the spray entirely.  Even Lister described it as ‘a necessary evil incurred to attain a greater good.’ After many experiments, he found that boracic acid was a better antiseptic.

Because of his new fame, Lister was invited to leave Edinburgh and join the prestigious King’s College Hospital in London.  The newspapers reported Lister as saying that it was his duty to go to King’s because the teaching of surgery in London was very bad.  Such publicity did not go down well with his future London colleagues.  “Who is this ignorant professor from an insignificant Scottish University,” they said, “that he should dare to criticize the great London teaching-schools?” 

Lister also made himself unpopular by insisting for hygienic reasons that his wards should be separated from all other wards, and that they should not be shared by any other surgeon.  He even had the nerve to bring his own personally trained staff with him from Edinburgh.  Little by little however, Lister won the English over.

Dr. Frederick Cartwright, a Fellow in the Royal College of Surgeons, holds that Lister “was a humble servant of God, and that he always asked for His guidance in moments of difficulty.  There is no doubt that he believed himself to be directly inspired by God…To Lister, the operating-theatre was a temple.” Lister was very humble, but also very brave and determined.  In spite of all the opposition that he faced, he never gave up because he knew that God was guiding him to help humanity.

My prayer for those reading this article is that the ‘Great Physician’ Jesus may empower each of you, like  Joseph Lister, to be ‘revolutionaries’ for the healing of our homes and families.

The Reverend Ed Hird, Rector

St. Simon’s Church North Vancouver

Anglican Coalition in Canada

http://www3.telus.net/st_simons

-author of the award-winning book ‘Battle for the Soul of Canada’

http://www.battleforthesoulofcanada.blogspot.com

-previously published in the Deep Cove Crier

*GÄÄÄÄSP*

Sitter på jobbet just nu, stirrar rakt fram, är trött, less, orolig, arg, irriterad, glad, lycklig, pigg, slö, sliten, slapp, yr och jääävligt jävligt sugen att sova..

Men nu vet jag ju att det inte går utan att jag prompt från kliva upp, ta mig ur sängen, pissa, borsta tänderna, skölja med Listerine, klä på mig, packa matlåda och komma ihåg nyckel och slänga sopar..
Bara för att så äre att vara vuxen.. Iaf för mig..

Ska skriva ngt mer meningsfull senare..

Take care // zajko

After studying Applied Microbiology, i’ve learnt that, if u DRINK listerine.

You can get drunk.

No, im not kidding.

Fun fact isn’t it. (:

What I’ve been wearing on the top for my temporary teeth is a full upper denture. My permanent will be an implant-supported overdenture; I’ll address that later.

There are a number of issues that go hand in hand with having a full upper denture.

• It prevents you from really tasting food, as the roof of the mouth is covered.
• Tasting food without being able to feel the texture or temperature with half the mouth “covered with plastic” is pretty exasperating.
• Research indicates that your tongue may feel restricted and want to play with the new denture but that it will adjust to its presence. I’m not buying that, because my silly tongue STILL can’t quit playing with the denture.
• If you have a strong gag reflex, you’re really going to be in trouble. Fortunately, I didn’t inherit my mom’s strong gag reflex. I do on occasion, however, get a choking feeling that makes me feel like yanking out my denture.
• If you’re not rigorous about cleaning your denture, food that’s caught under the plastic can start to look like a science experiment. I have yet to experience any science experiments, as I stay on top of keeping my denture clean. The Listerine® people would love me.

If you have to use the goopy denture adhesive, as I do, it takes a bit of work to figure out how much adhesive is too much. I learned the hard way – on more than one occasion – by using too much and having it ooze out of the back of the denture. Then I’m left to stick my finger in my mouth to try to scrape out what I can. See the fourth bullet above – this is when the gag reflex comes into play for me.

I do have some fun with this, though, by experimenting with different “goop” patterns . . . the mark of Zorro, a goal post, squiggly flourishes at the end of the lines, Morse code. Hey, you’ve gotta find some fun in all of this, right?