| Lincoln's face oddly asymmetrical
Laser scans of two life masks, made from plaster casts of Lincoln's face, reveal the 16th president's unusual degree of facial asymmetry, according to a new study. The left side of Lincoln's face was much smaller than the right, an aberration called cranial facial microsomia. The defect joins a long list of ailments — including smallpox, heart illness and depression - that modern doctors have diagnosed in Lincoln. Lincoln's contemporaries noted his left eye at times drifted upward independently of his right eye, a condition now termed strabismus. Lincoln's smaller left eye socket may have displaced a muscle controlling vertical movement, said Ronald Fishman, who led the study published in the August issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology. Severe strabismus leads to double vision and can be treated today by surgery.
As Medical Patents Surge, So Do Lawsuits
A surge in patents that protect surgeries and other medical methods has triggered numerous lawsuits in recent years, with inventors fighting more vigorously than ever to protect their intellectual property rights. Patent lawyers say doctors and scientists are suing to protect everything from laser eye surgery techniques to stent procedures to methods for declawing a cat. The medical community is weary of the trend, noting that threats of patent infringement litigation could interfere with effective patient care. Attorney John Dragseth said he has noticed a new trend: doctors getting their own patents, and then asserting them against medical device companies in court. "Many physicians are constantly coming up with new techniques and devices.
Laser scans reveal lopsided Lincoln
Artists, sculptors and photographers knew Abraham Lincoln's face had a good side. Now it's confirmed by science.Laser scans of two life masks, made from plaster casts of Lincoln's face, reveal the 16th president's unusual degree of facial asymmetry, according to a new study.The left side of Lincoln's face was much smaller than the right, an aberration called cranial facial microsomia. The defect joins a long list of ailments - including smallpox, heart illness and depression - that modern doctors have diagnosed in Lincoln.Lincoln's contemporaries noted his left eye at times drifted upward independently of his right eye, a condition now termed strabismus. Lincoln's smaller left eye socket may have displaced a muscle controlling vertical movement, said Dr. Ronald Fishman, who led the study published in the August issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.Severe strabismus leads to double vision and can be treated today by surgery."Lincoln noticed double vision only occasionally and it did not bother him a great deal," said Fishman, a retired Washington, D.C., ophthalmologist and history buff.Most people's faces are asymmetrical, Fishman said, but Lincoln's case was extreme, with the bony ridge over his left eye rounder and thinner than the right side, and set backward.Lincoln's appearance was mocked by his political enemies, historians say.
Laser scans reveal how lopsided Lincoln’s face really was
CHICAGO — Artists, sculptors and photographers knew Abraham Lincoln's face had a good side. Now it's confirmed by science.Laser scans of two life masks, made from plaster casts of Lincoln's face, reveal the 16th president's unusual degree of facial asymmetry, according to a new study.The left side of Lincoln's face was much smaller than the right, an aberration called cranial facial microsomia. The defect joins a long list of ailments — including smallpox, heart illness and depression — that modern doctors have diagnosed in Lincoln.Lincoln's contemporaries noted his left eye at times drifted upward independently of his right eye, a condition now termed strabismus. Lincoln's smaller left eye socket may have displaced a muscle controlling vertical movement, said Dr. Ronald Fishman, who led the study published in the August issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.Severe strabismus leads to double vision and can be treated today by surgery.“Lincoln noticed double vision only occasionally and it did not bother him a great deal,'' said Fishman, a retired Washington, D.C., ophthalmologist and history buff.Most people's faces are asymmetrical, Fishman said, but Lincoln's case was extreme, with the bony ridge over his left eye rounder and thinner than the right side, and set backward.Lincoln's appearance was mocked by his political enemies, historians say.
Broken machine stopped my cancer op
A CANCER patient awaiting a vital operation to stop the disease spreading in his body claims his treatment was put back because the equipment at University Hospital was broken. Gregory Taylor says doctors told him new parts for the laser machine were ordered but no patients could be treated until they were fitted and in full working order. Mr Taylor, a 51-year-old father-of-three, of Addenbrooke Road, Keresley End, was diagnosed with throat cancer four years ago. Since then he has undergone half a dozen biopsies. He has now been told he needs a 10-minute laser operation to take out one of his vocal cords, in the hope of preventing the cancer from spreading to his lungs or other organs. Mr Taylor said he was told the operation had been scheduled for July 31, but was unable to undergo the surgery as the machine needed fixing and the hospital was waiting for parts to be delivered.
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