Ancient history.
Buddy had that done after a car accident. It’s more efficient and precise at removing dead or dying tissue than cutting (which inevitably leaves behind some decaying matter, or takes healthy tissue.)
Took him a while to get used to the idea though.
The best thing about maggots? After they eat you, you can eat them.
I read the reply before I clicked the link. I know exactly what that’s about.
shudder
“People didn’t like the thought of creepy-crawlies on their skin,” said Tony Fowler, customer services manager at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, Wales.
Uh, a big yes to that. I’m not much of a free thinker when it comes to giving maggots a home on my body. Give me a double dose of the antibiotics, please.
Actually a student of mine was one of the first people to have this done under the rubric of modern medicine. They did a Scientific American special on it and his leg was the star. They put a bunch of maggots in his wound and wrapped his leg in Saran Wrap.
He was quite proud. Said it felt “kinda squishy.”
That’s hilarious, Dean. Is the article correct when it says that maggots simply don’t ever eat healthy tissue? If that’s true… then why haven’t we been using them for awhile, other than the “ewww” factor. Seems like an ideal solution for getting rid of diseased flesh.
Can they eat cancerous flesh, or is that still considered “healthy” tissue?
We’ve been using them for hundreds of years.
Can they eat cancerous flesh, or is that still considered “healthy” tissue?
I’m pretty sure cancerous tissue is still considered healthy. The DNA may be a bit messed up, but it’s not infected with bacteria or anything.
The maggots only eat dead flesh, so cancerous stuff doesn’t interest them.
Also, apparently you want them gone before they pupate (is that the correct term?) and turn into flies. Docs wash them out of the wound after a bit.
Maggots don’t eat exclusively dead flesh. It can be “mostly dead” (any Princess Bride puns or references will be dealt with mercilessly). They’ll eat a frost-bitten finger, for example, if it’s warmed up so they can consume it.
Or at least that’s what I heard… someone correct me if I’m wrong.
The sterile maggots are destroyed and replaced every 24 hours with a fresh crew.
At least that’s what I read on the internet. From a guy who works at a hospital.
I had a friend in the ROTC and I took a peek at his survival handbook once. In the manual it explains the whole procedure, because that’s usually their only option when they’re out in the jungle. So I think it’s considered a pretty useful procedure when there aren’t other options.
I became so enamored with the idea I tried to grow my own maggots on a pretty nasty gash I had… but it didn’t work. Alas.