The Overflowing Inkwell’s Reviews > The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History > Status Update
The Overflowing Inkwell
is on page 33 of 546
Next time someone bewails the current dismal state of academics & literacy, tell them that in 1869, when the new Harvard president wanted to institute written examinations for medical degrees, the professor of surgery complained to the board that such exams were beyond the reach of students ("More than half of them can barely write.") & you could fail four out of nine total courses and still get your M.D.!
— Aug 25, 2025 08:29PM
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The Overflowing Inkwell’s Previous Updates
The Overflowing Inkwell
is on page 180 of 546
?!??!?!?!?! No! Blood is NEVER BLUE. NOT EVER. Not even for a split second, omg. "Blood carrying oxygen in arteries is bright red; without oxygen in veins it is blue." NOPE. Cyanosis occurs, sure, and victims look blue, because yes, they are not able to transfer oxygen to the blood. But that is an appearance of the skin, not an actual color of the blood. 🫨🫨🫨
— Aug 27, 2025 09:13PM
The Overflowing Inkwell
is on page 140 of 546
"...[Carrel] kept part of a chicken heart alive for 32 years..."
This was debunked with the discovery of the Hayflick Limit: the number of times noncancerous, healthy cells can divide before they die. The heart in question was only cells from that heart, regularly bathed in medium contaminated with new heart cells that replenished stock & gave the appearance of immortality, though they didn't realize it at the time.
— Aug 27, 2025 09:10PM
This was debunked with the discovery of the Hayflick Limit: the number of times noncancerous, healthy cells can divide before they die. The heart in question was only cells from that heart, regularly bathed in medium contaminated with new heart cells that replenished stock & gave the appearance of immortality, though they didn't realize it at the time.
The Overflowing Inkwell
is on page 25 of 546
"In the 1820s, two hundred years AFTER the discovery of thermometers, French clinicians began using them [to treat patients]."
How are we even alive, guys.
— Aug 25, 2025 08:05PM
How are we even alive, guys.
