Medical

John Vetterlein was born in 1935. He spent the years of the Second World War at Redbridge, on the eastern approaches to London, and considers himself fortunate to have survived the V1 (flying bomb) and V2 (rocket) attacks. His father served throughout that war in the Royal Air Force.

Having studied physics and mathematics, Vetterlein went on to work in civilian hospitals as a conscientious objector to military National Service. Before continuing his studies in chemistry and pharmacology (he worked in the NHS for a number of years), he lectured in astronomy and the history of mathematics for London University.

His hospital experience in the U.K. included appointments at:

Brentwood District Hospital (Essex)
Harold Wood Hospital (Essex)
Westminster Hospital
University College Hospital
London Chest Hospital
Metropolitan Hospital
St. Leonard’s Hospital
St Stephen’s Hospital
St. John’s Hospital
Gordon Hospital

In the area of research, Vetterlein’s special interests are non-opiate analgesics, substance abuse and general toxicology. In connection with the latter he has studied surfactants with special attention to benzene and its derivatives and the cresols in particular. His current research is in the area of atmospheric pollution from metallic micro-particles.
Science Editor (1998 -  )
Spring Ast LIX
Rousay
Orkney 

Pharmaceuticals etc.

When I raised the question many years back with the then President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society the widespread misuse of the word "pill" it engendered not the slightest interest.

And so the media will continue to refer to oral, solid pharmaceuticals as pills when in fact the pill has ceased to be in common usage ever since industry took over the manufacture of their replacement in the form of tablets (in a variety of presentations), capsules and cachets.

I should also like to ask why we refer to injections as "jabs"? It is all part of the general level of insensitivity to word meaning and sound. For example, few of us turn a hair at the word "slash" being used abundantly every time a web site is given out of the media. Only a minority appear to prefer the words "forward stroke"

There are many uses for the word "slash" including to lacerate using a sharp instrument, to urinate and so forth. For some (I include myself here) the so-called "f" word is far less offensive since it refers to a natural function of the human body without which most of us would not be here! (And when accessing an extension by telephone, some tells us to “hit” key so and so . . . !)

JCV

10/01/11