Post by Lady Aislin Creed of Eohmark on Mar 22, 2009 10:49:22 GMT -6
TO WHAT EVER END, WE BE THERE WITH SKILLED HANDS
``Healing is not a skill everyone can have. Many people are born to do different things..healing is the gift of life. Anyone can take away a life, but to revive it, takes great skill and patience unlike any other``[/size]
Duties of at the Infirmary
[/center]ATTENDANT- This is normally the first job that many get when in the Infirmary. It is not a low job in the least, for these men and women keep the place clean and healthy. They clean up the blood, remove bodies of the dead and take them to a care taker or burn them, change sheets, transport new cots and others needs to the Infirmary from the merchants and assist the healers when other healers are not available. They also mix herbs and concoctions to clean floors, walls and anywhere else that may get messy. From time to time, they have been known to help hold items such as trays for healers and physicians or hold victims down if there is a need.
HEALER- These men and women assest illness and minor injuries. They can sow up wounds, bandage them, give saps, ointments and use herbal treatment to heal. They are not authorized to perform surgery or amputation of any kind though a few have been known to assist a midwife and physician when staff is light or in demand such as times of war. Healers also have been known to log deaths, births, illnesses and injuries daily and give the information to the book keepers/scribes within the Infirmary. These men and women have a general knowledge of herbs that must be mixed and all are taught how to read and write the Scottish language. They are mildly educated.
FIELD HEALER- Healers who are seeking to advance in knowledge. They travel a ways behind the armies, stay close to the field physicians when on a ship and tend to linger away from the battles/wars. Generally they did not come in until the fight has shifted and check among those wounded to give herbal healing, bandage minor wounds and provide comfort, along with transportation from the field to a area set up for healing out in the open. When entering the field, healers can be found in a mass of numbers. Up to ten healers can be assigned to one company (small group) and twenty to forty for a battalion (large group)
MIDWIFE- These women have a great deal of knowledge on herbs that can harm or heal both unborn child and mother. They do monthly check ups (unless more is needed and the pregnancy is difficult), consult the mother and father on matters having to do with pregnancy and will be the ones who deliver the baby when the time comes. Generally, a mid wife can not perform surgery to remove the child from the womb if the mother's stomach needs to be cut. After a physician cuts the mother open, the midwife is the one whom pulls the child out and cares for it and makes certain the mother is coherent. There can be as little as one midwife for each mother, or up to four at a time. Midwives create small bonds with the mother-to-be during the time of pregnancy and are the most reliable source of comfort and information. Midwives can be any age from seventeen to late fifties. Many women remain midwives for their whole life, preferring life over death when it comes to skills. A midwife also is in charge of giving women information on how to prevent pregnancy. Herbs or other methods are not always one hundred percent affective.
FIELD PHYSICIAN- May perform minor surgery, amputation if the limb is a threat to become infected and in many cases, are allowed to give a fast acting poison to those who request it and if they are unsaveable so they do not suffer. They ride to war along side the Army & Rangers, travel by boat with the Fleet and remain in the Calvary during their campaigns. Most tend to be men and are known to blend in with their party, doing odd jobs to help. They learn skills in horse riding, ship commands and formations. Not many Field Physicians are assigned in one area. Three to five can be found traveling within a company. Six to ten within a battalion. Physicians also have been known to fight, as they are directly in the heat of battle more often then not.
HERBALIST- Generally remain in the Infirmary to work their duties and have their own wings. Because those who are herbalist will be making much of the medication for the population of Skye, they must be those who are trusted and have a great knowledge of different plants & herbs. Once a week, they must attend a class with Aislin and other head herbalist to learn about new methods.
SURGEONS - Specialize in the treatment of injury, disease, and deformity through operations. Using a variety of instruments, and with the person in need of help under anesthesia, a surgeon corrects physical deformities, repairs bone and tissue after injuries, or performs preventive surgeries on patients with debilitating diseases or disorders. Although physicians perform general surgery, many surgeons choose to specialize in a specific area.
PHYSICIAN- Those called "Physicians" have been trained in every field and have done every field for some length of time. They always start as a healer and work their way up the chain. Physicians are the only ones who can perform surgery, amputation and operation on the most serious of injuries that are internal. They are generally called for the more violent natured injuries and must have a strong stomach. Lady Aislin Creed and others of her high ranked staff review those requesting to train as one carefully, for it is not for the faint of heart and many need a calm demeanor to take such task. They will have all the knowledge of a field physician, head herbalist & midwife.
APOTHECARY - Those that learn this field are similar to what is known as a modern pharmacist. The difference those who study this field, is that they mix chemical compounds with herbs to create stronger, faster working medicines. Many are still being tested and do not always work as planned. Those in this field must have a open mind for science, as religion bounds use of chemicals. They must also have a complete understanding of herbs, before moving to chemicals.
COUNCIL MEMBERS- The head of their fields. These people have done it all and practiced it all for a long time, though chose their favored section and are the teachers of the field. There can be up to four council members in each field due to each heading a region. North, East, South and West. They meet twice a week to talk on what is going on with their regions, bringing recorded documentation and talking of new methods, new teachings and studies.
Methods of Healing
HERBAL HEALING- Herbal medicine is an aspect of indigenous medicine - the use of gathered plant parts to make teas, poultices, or powders that purportedly effect cures. This is a big part of the Infirmary and most, if not all, are trained in at least the bare basics.
SPIRITUAL HEALING- Healing by way of prayer. Due to Skye holding a great deal of religious culture, it bleeds into many things and healing is not left out. While more Physicians and healers become interested in the science of things, pray is allowed to those who request it. There is neither proof nor falsehood that this method indeed works. Perhaps it is up to the believer.
SURGICAL HEALING- Recent practices have lead to learning more about the body and how to help mend internal damage. Broken bones, deeply lodges arrows and muscle repair are all advancing every day with new practices being introduced. Not all are approved.
APOTHECARY HEALING- Healing works much like herbs, inserted into the body either by stuffing a wound or orally. This is still a new field and mistakes can happen due to chemical use mixed with that of herbs. Generally, many will protest to this form of healing due to religious beliefs.
